Dress for a Conference

When you attend a conference, you often do so with the intention of establishing connections and creating impressions with other professionals in your field. As a result, you should put your best foot forward in the fashion department. Before you decide what to wear, verify whether or not the conference you attend has any guidelines for dress. Otherwise, use your best judgment to determine what level of dress your conference requires. Also remember that presentation and reception attire will likely vary from attendance attire.

Steps

Professional Business Conferences

  1. Bring a blazer or sports jacket. This is especially important for men. You do not necessarily need a wool suit jacket, but some form of structured jacket, in a traditional color like black or brown, is a good idea, even if you only end up carrying it.
  2. Wear dress pants if you want to leave a lasting impression. Black, gray, navy blue, and brown pants are the standard colors of choice.
  3. Consider khakis. Khaki pants are common for men's business casual, but women can also pull them off for business casual, as well. Keep your khakis pressed and wrinkle-free.
  4. Women may choose to wear slacks, khakis, or to try out a knee-length pencil skirt. Dark colors, like black or dark brown, are the most traditional and best received.
  5. Wear a button-down collared shirt or polo shirt. Light and dark colors are both acceptable, but avoid anything bold or flashy.
  6. Women may consider a knit blouse, silk blouse, or close-weave sweater. Choose a top that flatters your figure without being skin tight or low enough in the front to be revealing. A solid color works best for casual fabrics, but a print in a rich hue can look appropriate on nicer fabrics like silk.
  7. Men - decide whether or not you want to wear a tie. Ties make you look more professional, and you may want to wear one if you intend to mingle and establish contacts for the future. If leaning toward a business casual style, however, ties are not necessary.
  8. Wear black or brown leather shoes. Men can opt for a lace-up style or a more casual loafer, but either way, your shoes must be polished and in good condition.
  9. Women - wear flats or a low heel (no high heels). Closed-toe pumps or flats, are preferable. Black and brown leather are ideal.
  10. Match your socks to your trousers. This applies to both men and women. Black socks are the most common and most versatile color, but you should try to match the color of your socks to the color of your shoes or trousers in order to blend the two together. Avoid white or colored socks that might stand out.
  11. Women, if you choose to wear a skirt or dress, check the fabric to see if it is clinging to you. If so, wear a slip underneath.
  12. Minimize your accessories. Avoid non-traditional jewelry, like lip piercings, and only wear subtle pieces that do not look flashy.

Casual Conferences

  1. Break out the khakis. Khaki pants are just about as dressy as you need to be for a casual conference. Look for trouser-style pants with wide legs, and keep the material pressed and free of wrinkles.
  2. Consider a dark wash denim. Light and medium washes may look too casual, so the darker the wash, the better. Stick with a trouser-style leg and avoid styles that sag at the waist or taper past the knee.
  3. Also consider a knee-length skirt, if you are a woman. Pencil and A-line skirts work best, but you can play with the color and pattern more than you could at a professional conference. Avoid extravagant embellishments and stick for conservative "Sunday best" skirts.
  4. Go with a polo shirt, especially if you are a man. Stick with solid colors and avoid crazy patterns. Traditional button-down shirts also work well.
  5. Wear a nice blouse or sweater, if you are a woman. Cotton, knit, and silk blouses look especially nice. You can opt for a button-down blouse or choose one that slips on over your head.
  6. Go for a dress. Instead of a separate top and bottom, women can also consider a solid dress. Choose one in a work-appropriate style. Generally, this means that the dress has a solid print, conservative neckline, and knee-length hem.
  7. Stick with leather shoes. Black and brown loafers work well for guys. Sneakers are too casual and must be avoided.
  8. Keep your heel low. Women have a little more room to play around with their shoe for a casual conference, but you should still opt for a closed-toe style with a relatively low heel. Feel free to play with color and texture, however.
  9. Match your socks to your shoes. Black, brown, gray, and tan socks work best. Avoid white socks or socks with patterns.
  10. Wear hosiery with skirts and dresses. For extremely casual settings, pantyhose many not be necessary at all. It still would not be a bad idea to carry them, however. If you realize later that they are not necessary, you can slip them off.
  11. Keep your accessories to a minimum. Even at a casual conference, accessories should still be unobtrusive and simple.
  12. Dress up for dinner. The required dress code for meal functions can vary. Luncheons may only require business casual dress, but most evening receptions require you to dress up. Women should opt for conservative cocktail dresses and men should go with a suit and tie.

Presentation Attire

  1. Wear a collared, button-down shirt. Basic colors like white or light pastels work best, but bright colors and patterns should be avoided.
  2. Throw on a wool suit jacket. Choose a single-breasted style in a dark color like black, navy, gray, or brown. The jacket should be tailor-fit for both men and women.
  3. Match your trousers to your jacket. Garments that come as part of a two-piece suit are best, but if you buy your slacks separately, you should match the color to the color of your jacket.
  4. Consider a knee-length skirt, if you are a woman. Both trousers and skirts are appropriate business attire for women. Select a pencil skirt that matches the color your suit jacket, preferably black, navy, gray, or brown.
  5. Wear polished leather shoes. Men should consider formal lace-up styles, like Oxfords, in black or dark brown.
  6. Wear closed-toe leather flats or pumps. Women can wear low heels, but avoid high heels or strappy styles that look more sexy than professional. Black and dark brown shoes are the most appropriate and least distracting.
  7. Stick with socks that coordinate with the color of you suit. This applies mostly to men. Black socks are the most common since they create a smooth transition between dark slacks and dark shoes.
  8. Slip on nylon pantyhose, if you are a woman. Hosiery is necessary for skirts and recommended for trousers, as well.
  9. Choose a conservative tie, if you are a man. Select a tie made of high-quality fabric, like silk, and a subdued color or pattern. Avoid bold patterns and character prints.
  10. Match your belt to you suit and shoes. The color of your belt should fit in with the color scheme the rest of your outfit follows.
  11. Keep your accessories to a minimum. This applies to both men and women. Watches and other jewelry should be low-key. Avoid any non-traditional jewelry, like eyebrow piercings or nose piercings.

Tips

  • If the conference you're attending is for white-collar "business professionals" or an academic conference, you should adhere to a stricter style of business dress. Business casual is often appropriate for passive observers, but you may want to lean more toward traditional business attire if you're there to impress anyone.
  • If you are attending a conference with other co-workers, then by default, you should dress according to your office's dress code.
  • Keep the climate in mind. A winter conference will require heavier clothing than a summer conference, even if it is indoors. Likewise, a conference in Florida will require lighter clothes than one held in Alaska.
  • Giving a presentation requires a more impressive style of dress than merely listening to one requires. You need to make a lasting impression with your audience, and a well-groomed ensemble is the best start you can provide yourself with.
  • Casual conferences typically include those meant for writers, bloggers, and blue-collar professionals. If you have a career that does not require you to dress formally, like landscaping or dog training, you do not necessarily need to dress formally to attend a conference. Business casual or smart casual is the common standard, especially for attendees.

Things You’ll Need

  • Dress trousers
  • Khaki pants
  • Dark-wash denim jeans
  • Skirt
  • Dress
  • Button-down shirt
  • Blouse
  • Sweater
  • Polo shirt
  • Blazer, sports jacket, or suit jacket
  • Belt
  • Leather shoes
  • Socks
  • Pantyhose
  • Necktie
  • Simple accessories

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Sources and Citations

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