First Biz Networking Event/What Not to Wear

WHAT NOT TO WEAR
Attended my first business networking event. A luncheon at Comme restaurant in CBD (downtown Melbourne, Central Business District) sponsored by one of our alliance partners. Gorgeous restaurant-- the food, the space and the service. http://www.comme.com.au/
Met some nice people, made some good connections, including one solid sales lead. Yea! Got invited to croquet and coffee (separately).
The most surprising part of the day was when Heather saw what I was going to wear--wide-leg navy slacks, a blue silk blouse and a coral colored blazer-- and immediately urged me to go back and change. Apparently, people here dress very conservatively for business. I ended up wearing a brown knee length skirt, caramel colored ruffled blouse and a chocolate brown silk blazer. I snuck in my chunky silver tiffany necklace and had to give a firm "no" to the pantie hose and pumps suggestion; an American girl has got to draw the line somewhere. Besides, it's 90F degrees here right now.
But I'm glad that I listened and changed my clothes. Everyone there was wearing navy and white or black and white matched suits or dresses. Yikes. The one exception was the speaker, the CEO of a popular company here. I won't say her name or the name of the company but you can ask me offline. I will tell you that she wore an all red suit accessorized with creme colored patent leather pumps smothered in a pattern of blooming red roses and giant green leaves. And get this... a matching handbag. Really. And, I kid you not, the compliments were flying. Wow. I guess I have some adjusting to do...


WORD WONDERS
Mozzies= mosquitos
Brecky= breakfast
EFTPOS= debit card (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale)
doyz= days
type= toype
toyme= time
payple= people
rye-n-ge= range