What should a postgrad wear to present at a conference?

[D0RA]

DD is presenting at her first international conference in September. This is her first time presenting in person overseas, she’s only had posters or done online presentations at Uk conferences before.

There’s no photos of previous events online but I think the attendees will be academics or clinicians - it’s a very niche area of medicine.

I’m assuming that the dress code for students will be a little more relaxed ? The conference is at a university in Croatia, so the weather will probably be high 20s, maybe low 30s max.

She’s not going to the dinner or any other events ( as they cost a lot extra and she’s paying for it herself, no sponsorship 😥).

Business casual I'd say.

If she was a bloke, suit but no tie. Office equivalent in my head is a smart ish dress, or trousers, blouse and a blazer.

Thank you @Raspbear . Off to the shops then #bankofmum . She owns nothing that remotely resembles office wear ( and she wears a difference size from me ).

I was hoping you’d say casual is fine 😥

She HATES being dressed up, it’s not a coincidence that she has chosen a job where they wear a comfortable uniform .

Smart trousers, smart shirt (button-up) or similar level of smart blouse. It's fine if the shirt/blouse has a pattern; it doesn't have to be super smart. A blazer if she wants to bring something as an extra layer, though with high 20s, she'll not be wearing it.

In general (not just for the postgrads), academic conferences are not very formal (I'm in law, but I see some other conference attendees in my building and it all seems fairly similar). At a small UK conference last year, I saw at least 5 people in jeans and/or wearing trainers (but no t-shirts!). I wouldn't go down to that level of casualness, but she shouldn't need to stress too much.

Conferences I've been to in healthcare are quite formal. As pp said, men wear suits, shirts, no tie. Women wear business dresses, with/without jacket.

It's the sort of thing you'd wear to an interview, although I know that's got more casual in recent years.

Even attendees tend to wear office wear.

Hope that helps

Smart shirt & trousers should do it. Plain but stylish. Everyone is there to listen not sit & judge her fashion hopefully. Doubt it'll break the bank, just usual work gear

Thanks all.

When she’s done things at Uk conferences she has worn a black and white button up shirt, black slightly smart trousers and flat shoes.So not student scruffy but as long way from lawyers office / job interview smart. More lawyer on dress down day / university lecturer style.

I've been at/hosted two conferences this year with postgrads presenting and the women wore something like you've described (trousers and blouse/shirt) or work dress. And remember, while it may be very hot out, its likely the venue will have air conditioning so she may need a jacket/cardigan for indoors.

I'd say that was absolutely fine. She could pack a pair of heels if she gets there a finds it's a bit smarter than she was expecting.

Get her to ask her supervisor, as my experience (research into specific diseases or genetics type thing) is the men wear jeans and a check or plain open neck shirt or polo. Women tend not to wear jeans, but certainly pretty casual. This goes through the whole range of speakers though - right through professor, not just post docs.
Honestly, the best thing is for her to ask her colleagues.

Don't disagree with any of the above, apart from the heels comment. Flat shoes, white trainers even, are increasingly common. Very few women wearing heels to any business events nowadays.

I find clinical conferences are a lot dressier than other academic ones, but heels not needed. If she's presenting then ultimately she should dress so she feels comfortable while still being smart.

I presented at two conferences this summer. I wore a denim dress for one and knee length denim shorts with a linen mix short sleeve top for the other. No heels for either.

The only person in a suit was a young post-doc. Most people wore anything from jeans and a t-shirt to a casual/slightly smart dress or chinos and shirt.

I'm an academic for the past 25 years and casual is par for the course in my field. I'm techy though which tends to be fairly casual.

I’m afraid that “ comfortable and smart “ isn’t an option. She is a very casual and quirky dresser - last month she went to a wedding wearing a red maxi dress, beat up denim jacket and converse worn with Lidl branded socks 🫢

The blouse and black trousers with flats is the smartest I’ve ever seen her.

I will encourage her again to ask her supervisors - they are both attending the conference.

Those of you who teach students will understand how it’s possible to be very bright in some ways but struggle with basic social stuff like this . And why her mum is having to deal with this for someone who is technically an adult 🫤

I thought you’d enjoying the socks 😬

That sounds perfect unless it's a medical conference which, as pp's have said, are a bit smarter.

What is her subject area?

The socks are hideous.

last month she went to a wedding wearing a red maxi dress, beat up denim jacket and converse worn with Lidl branded socks

Then I'm guessing she doesn't care what anyone else thinks, so I'd just step back and leave her be.
I had assumed originally she was just a bit unsure and was asking what people suggested.

She is unsure , that’s why I asked.

I was just explaining that her own style / her idea of comfort is rather unique to my eyes. Though perhaps not so amongst students - a lot of her friends study art and they all seem to dress in a very unusual style ( to my middle aged eyes ).

So any clothing that is likely to be remotely suitable for the conference will be very alien to her, she doesn’t have that kind of item in her wardrobe already.

I was just trying to explain why the “ smart office wear “ that people have helpfully suggested ( and which we will purchase ) won’t be normal or comfortable for her .

Thats why I’m posting , before we go out shopping and I spend £100 on an outfit for her that turns out to be the wrong thing.

I wasn’t saying that she was not going to buy it. Nor was I saying that she did not welcome the advice.

She knows that her own style isn’t suitable and she asked me. I wasn’t sure so I asked MN , the font of all wisdom.

Sorry if my attempts to be vaguely humorous in a middle aged mum, eye rolling way have offended you @UsingChangeofName . I thought the wedding outfit was very weird but it’s the style that she ( and her friend the bride ) wears.

@OchonAgusOchonOh the conference is on a very obscure area of medicine. I suspect not the type of area which will have sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies - all the speakers are academics or students and I assume that most of the attendees will be as well. Very few of the speakers are from the Uk, it’s an international conference.

I do a lot of academic (medical) conference presenting and usually wear smart-casual dresses. The criteria I use are: not see-through, short sleeves, just below knee. I pair them with ballet flats and nice earrings. Latter always looks nice in the close-up post-conference pics!

A blazer does wonders to smarten up any outfit, and they’re usually plentiful and cheap in charity shops. (I myself have three I wear to work and have never paid more than £5 for one).

I’m afraid that “ comfortable and smart “ isn’t an option.

So which does she want to prioritise if both isn't an option?

I think the shirt and trousers she wore for the other conference sound great.

Being over dressed in makeup and heels etc would make her look naive and not be taken seriously at least in my field

Also it's important to be comfortable in your clothes (eg not shoes you would be awkward in) when presenting

Can she take the outfit she already has and maybe something smarter and decide when she has scoped it out? Leave the tags on the smart outfit - if she decides not to wear it she can return it to the shop

I'd ask her supervisor as medical conferences vary a lot.

In my specialty it's practically the law that you should be wearing a dress from the White Stuff. Audience will be completely casual.

Have been to other specialty conferences which are a bit smarter, especially for speakers but suits would definitely be pushing it.

In a hot place I'd expect men in shirts + chinos, women in smart casual dress.

This is a brilliant idea thank you, she loves charity shops. In fact she dresses almost exclusively from there , for ideological reasons.

She is prioritising smart of course. Or to be more accurate - appropriate. She wants to follow the ( unwritten ) rules, she just doesn’t know what they are.

She is neurodiverse. If someone says to her “ Just wear what’s comfortable” when they actually mean “ Wear a version of office clothing that you find the least uncomfortable “ , she will be confused.

She will take it literally and wear a weird men’s tee shirt , oversized dungarees , DM and large dangly earrings that look like Jaffa cakes . Because that’s what she finds comfortable.

So comfortable has several meanings here . Eg

clothes that allow you to move freely, suitable for the climate , in soft fabrics that hardly touch your body

clothes that express who you are a person and align with your values

clothes that will fit in with with what others expect of someone of your age, sex and role.

So that’s why it doesn’t help when one supervisor said “ Oh just wear what you want “.

I suspect the supervisor actually means “ I feel uncomfortable giving fashion advice to students” . Or “ Is this one of these issues that might get me in trouble with the D&I people ? “ .

Im pretty sure she doesn’t mean that DDs normal style will work on the conference platform. And DD knows that - that’s why she asked.

It’s so helpful when posters here say clear things like “ blouse and trousers” , “ non see through knee dress with sleeves “ or “ blazer “.

Or “ she doesn’t need high heels and make up or a business suit “.

Thank you everyone for your helpful comments . DD is asking the other supervisor today in the hope of more useful information.

International conference - what do I wear? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/academics_corner/4872315-international-conference-what-do-i-wear

I asked a similar question a few days ago. For my actual presentation I've decided I'm wearing chino- type trousers, a short sleeve shirt/top and my trusty dms. I'll have a blazer too just in case. The rest of the days will be much more casual as I really don't think people care that much anymore