Dilemma time.
I am, so they say, a eurocrat. I work for a European Institution, which means, in the popular imagination, that I am not only a eurocrat, but also a “faceless bureaucrat”. So, as I go about my business in the outside world, I should look the part, shouldn’t I? Meaning (at least in North-West Europe) I should don a nice anonymous business suit and a tie to face my audience. But wait; the event I am attending tomorrow in Dublin is a “Web Summit“, focusing an New Media, Social Media, Online Campaigning, and other hip things that are often written with excitable capital letters. The list of speakers is intimidatingly full of dudes, techie guys who do cool things with internet and wouldn’t be seen dead in a suit and tie. Yep, I’m talking the black polo-neck and designer jeans brigade here. *
Three delegates on their way to the Web Summit
Me, I’d struggle to define myself as fashion conscious. More like generally clueless, leavened somewhat by over twenty years exposure to lots of Italians, who have at least made me aware of some basic no-noes. Nonetheless, true male Brit of my generation, I feel utterly out of my depth when the sartorial going gets tough. Hence the deep insecurities I have suffered since being precipitated into the world of the social internet, especially when faced with gatherings of new media types who live at the interface between state-of-the-art tech and media, thus doubly cool. Suddenly, the office uniform just won’t do any more; there is a different dress code to consider, but one which creates the dilemma I mentioned above.
The worst thing would be to be the eurocrat-trying-to-be-cool, surely?
Clothes send messages, that I know. But what message should I be sending? The worst thing would be to be the eurocrat-trying-to-be-cool, surely? It’s like your dad trying to disco dance… But I don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb either, the poor benighted Web 1.25-er who probably hasn’t aggregated his twitter feed with his LinkedInFaceSpace yet… Intimidated, moi?
So, do I go hell-for leather, all out for an improbable Keanu Reeves/Matrix look, or do I go for wimpy compromise? When push comes to shove, do I wear that tie I put in my suitcase or not?
If you could let me know by 7.45 am tomorrow, Irish time, that’d be really helpful.
* By the way, I use the terms “dude” and “guy” advisedly. Of 28 speakers, only three are women. I’m pretty sure they won’t be wearing ties.
“Designer jeans brigade?” Where do you live, bizzaro world? Newsflash: techie dudes are 99% geeks. Their socks usually don’t match and they nonchalantly venture into public with bits of toilet paper stuck to their shaving cuts. If anyone can give a Eurocrat’s lack of sartorial sense a run for its money, it’s them.
I solved the dilemna (when I have to give a speach in those circumstances) by wearing a grey suit with a tie (and I always start my speach with “I am one of those guys in grey suit from Brussels”). Then the presentation usually does the trick. And I untie my tie as soon as I’m off the stage: this provides my personal cool factor. Not to mention I hate ties.
In the room, Keanu Reeves has it. No tie.
Just be yourself…
“Of 28 speakers, only three are women. I’m pretty sure they won’t be wearing ties.”
You know: I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them did just that.
As somebody who has never even owned a tie, I’d say: Go for what you feel most comfortable with. After all, you will be seen as that Eurocrat dude.
I’d say it’s more about attitude than about clothing.
You made a very relaxed impression when we met some weeks ago, and I cannot recall what you were wearing – I just recall that you look comfortable and interested.
If you can put this kind of attitude into your suitcase, together with the clothes you feel most comfortable with, I am sure nobody will realise that you are a eurocrat… :-)