Let's Talk About Dress Code

 Suit up! 

Hey everyone! Today I want to talk about speech dress, and why we walk around campuses across the country looking like little business people from the 1960s. 

The goal of speech attire is to look professional, and "streamlined". What this means, is we want people to focus on our words, not on the clothes we wear. We want attention to be drawn to our face, and away from the rest of our bodies, so we attempt to create solid looks that are eye-catching, but not distracting. Each team has its own set of dress code rules and suggestions, but I will be focusing on BUST's, since those are what I'm most familiar with. 

Masc Dress 

For individuals who choose to wear masculine tournament attire (pants and tie), the suit must be one solid color. This means, no sports coats and separate pants, it should be one intentional suit. We don't wear two-toned suits or different jackets and pants to create a solid streamlined look that focuses attention on your face, not a flashy jacket. Another more specific rule we have for the masculine dress code is to always wear a solid white button-up, instead of a colored one. Again, this just adds to the overall clean and crisp aesthetic. A note on ties: while I think bow ties are fine for a wedding or funky 70s dress party, classic neckties are preferable for speech. It should be said though, ties are the place to accessorize and have fun! There are so many wonderful, fun, colorful neckties out there. My friends usually opt for paisley and I always love how it looks! In the photo below you can see David is wearing a solid back suit, white button, and paisley tie to add a pop of color and fun to his professional look! 

Femme Dress

Now when it comes to feminine dress, I like to consider myself a suit expert. Since I've been competing in speech since middle school I've had lots of time to build my speech wardrobe and figure out my personal speech style. I will mostly be covering skirt suits here, but know pants suits are also acceptable if that is preferred! Like masculine attire, femme suits should be one complete set, not separate colors. When it comes to skirt suits, in my opinion, the richer the color the better! For most, speech is the only place you could rock an entirely pink or purple suit, so why not? Now, this being said, I recommend staying away from big patterns, as they can be distracting, especially if you move around a lot in your performance. With skirt suits, pantyhose, or nylons, are always a must. I don't know anyone outside of speech who still regularly buys pantyhose, so I'm inclined to believe the speech community is single-handedly keeping L'eggs in business. As for shoes, BUST personally sticks to matte, and heels or flats are a personal preference. I wear heels in round, then switch to flats during downtime or long walks. In the photo below, I am rocking my pastel yellow skirt suit, with my tan heels, while my friend Eleni slays their rust-red pantsuit with an orange paisley tie. 

Where Can I find Suits? 

Wearing suits is one of my favorite parts of speech, but finding them is one of the biggest challenges. Because suits aren't exactly everyday wear for most Americans, it is hard to find the correct styles at most stores. However, if you are set on buying a brand-new suit, I'd recommend Dillard's or Macy's - department stores still have a few workwear options that can work for speech. But if spending roughly $200+ isn't really in the budget, I'd recommend surfing the reselling sites. Ebay and Poshmark have been total lifesavers for my speech closet. I've found, most people selling old suits online don't always know what they have, and will mark the suits way down! The cheapest suit I've ever bought was $12 on Ebay, and it's one of my proudest accomplishments! Additionally, you can always check out your local thrift stores or garage sales! I've only ever found one suit at a thrift store, but some of my teammates have found almost all of theirs at the thrift, so it never hurts to look! 

To Tie It All Up

While most speech fashions aren't exactly with the times, I think it is part of the fun of the activity. I always love going to tournaments and complimenting the other competitors and seeing what fun, funky suits people can find! If you've never worn a full suit before, I recommend it! In my opinion, the absolute confidence booster that comes with suiting up is unmatched! 

Talk Soon!

Kaity