What to wear to a conference

[Poblano]

I'm going to a work related conference this summer. I'm not an academic, but a professional in the field. The delegates will be a mixture of academics and industry professionals. I'm not presenting, just attending.

I'm in my mid 40s. The field is fairly male dominated, although becoming more balanced.

What should I wear?

It's work. So for conferences I've always worn the same outfits I would have worn for work. If actually presenting, up a notch to interview wear.

I hVE A black suit from cos with wide leg trousers I would wear with an emerald green silk shirt and doc marten sandals

My instinct is to just go with what I normally wear to work, but am worried about being too dressed up or not smart enough!

Should also have mentioned that it's a 4 day conference so I'll need several outfits that will all survive being packed in a case for the train journey. Although there will likely be an iron in the hotel room.

What about conference dinners? Same outfit as during the day, or different?

What do you usually wear to work? What size/colouring are you?

We can help suggest something then.

My go-to for conferences is usually a blazer with jeans and smart trainers or ballet pumps. Lots of blouses with jeans/trousers too, but really, anything goes, as long as you look smart.

I have 2 pairs of standard smart comfortable black trousers and take a clean top for each day. (M&S) Tops that don’t need ironing.
I have comfortable smart black shoes.

These are my uniform for conferences of which I attend a lot of.

Am 5'6, size 14, mid brown hair.

Usual work clothes: Wide leg tailored trousers or ankle grazers, blouse, brogues or loafers. Sometimes a Jersey dress with opaques and boots, or smart straight leg jeans with a blouse or breton top and a blazer.

I'm off to infosec Europe in June and think I'll wear my Joanieclothing dinosaur shirt dress on one of the days if it fits.

I tend to wear something in the smart casual bracket, work appropriate but not a suit.

That all sounds perfect! Comfortable shoes are key!
Remember to bring extra tops and clothes, as everything gets sweaty and dirty at conferences.
In terms of the conference dinner, the last one I was at, people were wearing what they would wear to a wedding. But, that seemed like quite a dressy one, I think a smart dress or else dress trousers and a top or blazer would work well too. A good tip is to check to see if there are any photos on social media of the event in previous years? Gives you an idea what everyone wears

All of this sounds perfect.

You really want to be comfortable - and smart.

A PP suggested jeans with a blazer, that's also perfect.

It also depends if it's a networking opportunity - mine usually are - in which case you do want to appear professional.

For conference dinners, that would be quite glam in the ones I go to - dress, heels etc. if it's a 4 day conference there will surely just be one main conference dinner, with the rest being normal meals where you can wear what you want.

i've been to many conferences in my time and unless you really know how people are likely to dress, i personally wouldn't wear jeans.
I'd go with what you normally wear for work, with a jacket you can put on if everyone looks really smart or take off if you feel you need to look more casual.
Conference dinners are a bit more tricky as sometimes people will wear the same as during the day, other times will dress up. Is it a conference that has run before? If so, can you google to see if there are photos from past events? Or contact the organisers? If not, I would wear what you would wear to a posh restaurant, rather than work clothes (although i appreciate for some people that might be the same thing!!)

@EarringsandLipstick that's right, there's a "conference dinner" on the last night and a "reception" on the others.

@OMGitsnotgood I've been googling, but so far have only found lots of pictures of men in suits with a shirt but no tie. Which isn't entirely helpful!

If it's an academic field there will be people wearing everything from shorts and t shirts to full suits with ties etc. Industry representatives tended to be more formal than not as it reflects on their brand. I would go for smart office wear, like a simple dress or smart trousers and a blouse. That helps you go from day to night too.

What conference is it? And where? This makes a big difference. I've been to many CS/Engineering academic conferences. Generally, if in the UK, attendees are quite scruffy, a little bit more smart casual abroad. Very few suits are worn.

I've been googling, but so far have only found lots of pictures of men in suits with a shirt but no tie. Which isn't entirely helpful!

well it's a little helpful in that it suggests it's not overly formal.

I agree with everything @PlantDoctor said

Where I’ve been caught out before is when someone says “shall we do causal tonight/tomorrow” and then I only have too causal non-conference clothes, and smart conference clothes. So I’d definitely take a smart pair of jeans or something with you.

Id suggest contacting the conference organisers to get an idea of how formal the evenings are.

But overall, what you’ve described as your workwear sounds good for a conference. Take at least one extra top/dress in case of spillages!

Definitely take extra tops - and an extra dress. You can usually dress a dress up or down so it gives you an option.

I find I feel manky at the end of each day at a conference and try to make time for exercise or a walk - and have a proper shower & wash hair, and get dressed / made up again before the evening.

So much easier for men!

Are there photos online from last years conference? That will give you an idea of what people wear.

I've found they are much less formal than pre Covid. It's more smart casual and comfy shoes than suited and booted these days.

Honestly noone will give a fuck. Dress in what you feel comfortable in and/or go with the message you want to deliver. Dress down if you want to have casual chats and get to know people working at the coal face, or dress up for business.

Nice dress for the proper conference dinner, the bloke will be in suits then.

Other than that I'd go smart casual all the way. Dark jeans are fine, casual dresses etc. Flat loafers or smart trainers. Dress for the weather of where you're going too, hopefully you'll get out to explore a bit

That all sounds fine for day wear. I've been to lots of professional conferences. Daytime, smart casual mostly.

Make sure you're comfortable sitting down in whatever you wear. I once wore a dress that was just above knee length, but when I sat down, it rode up and I felt a bit exposed (but I'm tall and a lot of my height is in my thighs).

Conference dinner 'a dress'. Some wear a slightly smarter day dress, others almost full on ball gown, colleague who I was good friends with and was in the middle of 'the mum years' so had limited opportunities to go 'out out' said our conference was one of the few times she got the chance to stay in a hotel, spend as long as she wanted to get ready in peace and dress up wore all sorts of great full length dresses, but that was very 'her' and most women wore a knee length nice dress.

But in reality, most people are completely rat arsed a bit drunk, so no-one will remember or care.

Take something casual. You might meet up with a couple of people in the bar, go for a walk, want to just be comfortable for a bit. (Jeans or comfy trousers).
Also nice dress for the big dinner and some smart work trousers and numerous tops. It's nice to have a fresh top for the evening. Maybe smart white tee and jacket for day and coloured silk blouse for the evening. That sort of thing. And comfy PJs for the hotel room. (There might be a fire alarm! Bitter expereince)

It really depends on the field as some are very casual. I usually take a mix of my usual work clothes, and a pair of jeans for when I don’t feel like dressing up. I also take 2-3 smarter outfits for conference receptions and the conference dinner. Maybe one dress, a jumpsuit, and a smart trousers / smart top combo (COS is good for this). I always take flat shoes as it’s easier for getting around and walking between venues. And I take my own hairdryer as hotel hairdryers are rubbish, plus (if taking a bigger suitcase) a dressing gown and maybe some slippers. And a cardigan or blazers for cold breakout rooms (if it’s in a hotel).

Take it from me, academics do not dress up for conferences. One colleague wore a velour tracksuit for three days, including to the conference dinner. You want to be comfortable. I used to wear a trouser suite and take several tops and maybe a dress if there is a dinner. A wrap or jacket is needed for colder rooms. A few luxuries for the room including a hip flask or bottle of wine. My small teddy bear went everywhere with me for company. Also, remember , if you are feeling you don’t know anyone, others will be feeling just the same.

I don't want to say which conference it is in case it is outing, but it is in the UK and in a convention centre. I'll be staying at a hotel approximately 5 minutes walk from the venue.

There's a park near the hotel so I'm thinking of taking running kit and going out before breakfast to counteract the long hours of sitting down!

I went to a conference last month and it varied from jeans & jumpers to full suits.
I dressed as I usually would for work and took a few items to dress up/down if needed.
On day 2 most people dressed far more causally than they did the day before!