“Women in Business Share What Dressing to Impress Means to Them.’’
Last week I attended the Digital Women Awards for the fourth time, and once again I left feeling inspired — not just by the incredible women I met, but also by their outfits and the words of the morning’s keynote speaker, Charlotte Carter.
In previous years, I’ve usually been backstage helping out, but as Digital Women has grown, I finally had the chance to enjoy the event as a guest. It was such a joy to catch up with familiar faces and meet new members of this diverse, dynamic community.
One of my favourite things about events like this is seeing everyone’s amazing outfits and unique styles. While I personally enjoy dressing up for award ceremonies and networking events, I know not every woman feels confident or comfortable “dressing to impress.”
In the past, I’ve often snapped photos of the colourful looks that light up these occasions, but haven’t always followed through with sharing the stories behind them. This time felt different.
Charlotte Carter — who I had the pleasure of sitting next to before realising she was the keynote speaker — opened the day with such honesty. A successful entrepreneur, Charlotte recently decided to close her bag business, Carter Bags, to focus on her growing e-commerce venture. She was warm, down-to-earth, and stylish, rocking a pair of fabulous silver knee-high boots from Mint Velvet.
But what struck me most was her openness. Charlotte admitted she’d changed her outfit that morning because she felt bloated, and then went on to encourage women to stop worrying so much about how they look, and instead to focus on sharing their worth.
It was a powerful reminder. We’ve all had those moments — hesitating before posting a selfie on social media, or even avoiding networking events altogether because of self-doubt about how we look. For many women, that lack of confidence in their appearance can overshadow their passion, drive, and knowledge.
“According to LinkedIn, women who are active on the platform grow their networks 26% faster than those who aren’t.”
3 looks wearing black at Digital Women Awards 25
This reminded me why visibility matters, and why I wanted to start a conversation about confidence, style, and the role our outfits play when showing up in business.
Over the course of the event, I spoke with more than 10 incredible women who kindly agreed to let me share their outfits and their thoughts on dressing to impress. In the coming weeks, you’ll discover their favourite brands, how they approach professional dressing, and what “dressing to impress” really means to them.
3 different looks at the Digital Women Awards 25
I can’t wait to share their insights and style inspiration with you — so make sure you’re following along on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to see each spotlight as it’s released. Look out for Digital Women, Dress to Impress blogs coming soon. What does dressing to impress mean to you?
