What to wear to a Conference?

It feels like all I’ve been doing these days is attending conferences. Two in two months and there is still more to come! Which (maybe unjustly) make me feel like I’ve become an expert in the art of quick conference dressing! The trick is to prepare before hand, make a list, put it on, get all the ironing, pressing, dry-cleaning and alterations done and hang the outfits complete with all the accessories in a row ready to wear.

What to wear? Many people especially if they are traveling to another city for a conference, treat it as a vacation. A conference is not a vacation. It is a work event, a chance to meet new people in your field, hear new ideas and to network. It is a professional event, so you should dress and act as a professional.

It however doesn’t mean wearing your tired black interview suit. Take your que from your advisor, your boss, mentor or an older professional in your field. A hundred to one bet, they are wearing suits. And when a person who attends at least five conferences annually, is wearing suits, it means you should too!

Your jacket and pants/skits/dress shouldn’t match but have to be complementary. For example a dark gray jacket over a light gray pair of pants (just make sure they are the same color tone). Add a top in a soft drape-y fabric. Experience has shown that button-down shirts don’t lay flat under the suit jacket; the button-down collars stick out and are too stiff. A rounded or v-neck sleeveless top is your best bet. I like to go for bright colors to contrast the somber suit. In this case, the pop of color from your top works as an accessories so go for a very simple necklace. If your top is simple and in the same color family as your s uit, put on an eye-catching necklace.

Colors: Stick to gray, Navy, brown and camel to be safe. Go for muted greens (olive and sage), dark muted burgundy, forest green, dark plum and aubergine if they complement you skin tone and you want to be a little more adventurous.

Shoes and hosiery: pumps, ballet flats or wedges in color complementary to your skirt or pants. Bare legs or sheer stocking in off-black, gray or the exact color of your skin. Be very careful here!

Bags: this is where you can go colorful. Pick a good size bag to fit all your stuff. Don’t get those ugly conference bags they hand out at the registration. A hundred to one they will clash with your outfit. Get a tote bag in a color matching or complementary to your suit or a bright one that goes with your top.

Dos and Don’ts:

-Do buy suits made of fabric which contain natural fibers silk, cotton and wool (45-75%).

-For a mid-range quality and nice cuts look for suits at Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Club Monaco. If you are lucky you can find a good quality suit “ON Sale” in these stores for around $200. Express, The Limited, NY and Company and many other chains carry suits but theirs are made of complete man-made material. And let’s be honest, poor quality fabric scream poor quality!

- Try to stick to solid colors. Solids are safe! Patterns are risky, your choice may come across as less than serious, too feminine, too wild, or too busy.

-Don’t wear khaki or jean skirts. Only tailored A-line or pencil skirts.

-Pay attention to the style and proportion of your jacket and you skirt/dress. If your skirt is tight at hemline like most fitted pencil skirt choose a jacket that is a little loose at waist. If your skirt is a loose pencil or a-line pick a jacket with a fitted waist.

-Your skirt hem should hit your knee. No skirt shorter than 1-2 inches above the knee. Miniskirts are not professional. Don’t wear a hem line longer than lowest part of your knee cap. They will look dowdy.

-Don’t wear a party style minidress. Satin or shiny material is for night(club).

-Wear clothing in your size. Too tight skirt and dresses tend to ride up when you walk. It is not attractive to fidget or keep adjusting your dress or skirt when you are presenting.

-Don’t wear a jumper dress with a puff sleeve shirt underneath and white tights. You are not seven anymore and not attending your school recital/play!

-Wear suitable, supportive and invisible underwear. Showing bra straps, bra colors or visible panty lines are a serious NO-NO. Not only for conferences but everywhere else too!

-Don’t wear a button-down shirt if you have short neck. The collar obscuring half your face is not attractive.

-Don’t wear tank tops and t-shirts, vests and jeans, especially when you are presenting. It makes you look immature.

-Don’t wink at the audience; don’t do hair flips or any other flirty gesture! You want to look professional.

-Don’t wear white hosiery, sneakers, flip-flops, shorts, faded holey jeans or thin see-through tops. Not professional!