At a trade show, the most effective hostess outfit is a sober one in the stand's colours: a women's-cut polo shirt embroidered with the logo, around 11 euros excluding VAT at 25 units, or an embroidered shirt for a dressier welcome, worn with plain dark trousers or a skirt.
The welcome hostess is the first person from your brand a visitor meets. At a glance, her outfit tells them whether they're in the right place, who to talk to, and what kind of company they're dealing with.
The prices in this article were read on tknp.io product pages on 11 October 2026: unit prices excluding VAT, chest embroidery included, most affordable colour, shipping extra. They are benchmarks and may change.
What should a trade show hostess wear?
A successful welcome outfit comes down to three rules: a plain colour taken from the stand, the logo embroidered discreetly on the chest, and the same colour with the same logo for the whole welcome team, male hosts included. Visitors then spot the welcome desk from afar, without having to read a badge.
Sobriety beats originality. A well-cut plain top, worn over dark trousers or a dark skirt, looks more professional than an outfit covered in logos. Embroidery, more discreet than print, gives the logo the look of a signature.
The embroidered polo shirt, the simplest welcome outfit
The polo shirt is the safest choice for a trade show welcome desk: it looks smart without being stiff, it can be worn for a whole day on your feet, and it comes in a women's cut. B&C's women's-cut Inspire Polo Women, 100% cotton at 180 g/m2, costs around 11 euros excluding VAT each, with the logo embroidered on the chest, for 25 polos, and its men's version costs the same.
For a brand that takes care of its image, Stanley/Stella's Prepster 2.0 moves up a level: 240 g/m2 organic cotton, a thicker knit that hangs better, at around 19.50 euros embroidered at 25 units. The whole range is on our custom polo shirts page.
The embroidered shirt for a dressier welcome
At a show where visitors come in suits, a shirt embroidered on the chest raises the welcome a notch. Russell Collection's poplin Classic Polycotton Poplin Shirt costs about 25.50 euros excluding VAT embroidered at 25 units, and the fitted stretch version about 31.50 euros.
An honest note: in the tknp.io catalogue, shirts currently come in a men's cut. For hostesses, the women's polo is the simplest solution; the shirts then go to the male hosts, in the same colour. Our custom shirts are all on one page.
The right colour for the welcome desk
For a hostess outfit, take the stand's or the logo's main colour, in a plain version. Navy, black and white go with any bottoms and any figure; a bright colour works too, as long as the whole stand wears it.
To make the logo stand out on the chosen top, our guide to sweatshirt colours gives the pairings that work. Our guide to logo placement gives the right height on the chest.
What the exhibitor provides, what the hostess brings
Provide the top in the stand's colours, and ask each hostess for plain dark bottoms and closed shoes she can stand in all day. The top carries the brand's identity: it's enough to make the team look consistent, without dressing everyone from head to toe.
Ask for sizes early, when you confirm the welcome team, and order one or two spare sizes. Our guide to collecting sizes avoids last-minute swaps.
For the rest of the stand team, gifts for visitors and outdoor days in the rain, our trade show merch guide takes over.
The welcome budget, priced on the product page
On tknp.io, the price shown on the polo or shirt product page includes the embroidery, tier by tier: you work out the welcome budget before even talking to a salesperson. The minimum is 10 units per model, mixing sizes and colours.
Frequently asked questions
What colour should a hostess outfit be?
The stand's or the brand's main colour, in a plain version. Navy, black and white are the safest for a welcome desk, with the logo embroidered on the chest in a contrasting colour.
How much does a custom hostess outfit cost?
At tknp.io, a women's-cut polo shirt embroidered on the chest costs about 11 euros excluding VAT at 25 units, an organic cotton polo about 19.50 euros, and an embroidered shirt from 25.50 to 31.50 euros. The bottoms and shoes are usually left to the hostess.
Should hosts and hostesses wear the same outfit?
Yes for the colour and the logo, which make the welcome desk recognisable. The cut, however, adapts: women's and men's polos at the same price from B&C, a shirt for the male hosts if the welcome is meant to be dressier.
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