Conference outfits (only female attending)

[Kellioo]

I don't know what to wear. All men who will be a mix of shirts and ties or shirts and chinos.

I'm a lower level than everyone else. I'm flattered to be invited but wondering why and have massive imposter syndrome anyway.

I want to look professional, confident and like I belong.

5ft 10in size 10 but some excess lbs so not feeling great.

Budget needs to be less than £100.

The skirt in this outfit doesn’t seem to be available yet but it would suit your budget, with a plain shirt. (Don’t know about the length.)

https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/tops/tops-t-shirts/product.pearl-embellished-t-shirt-blue.1201400002.html

That's pretty horrific!

I think we might need a bit more information - what industry? How smart / corporate is your everyday working environment? I'm in academia and attend a lot of conferences. I would wear trousers and a smart top or shirt. I wear wideleg ponte trousers as they travel well and don't crease easily. A merino or cashmere crewneck jumper or a poloneck would be fine in my field, with a bit of jewellery and make up to smarten it up. I might wear a blazer, but these days would go for a more oversized/unstructured shape. On your budget I would go for Marks and Spencer - you'll definitely get trousers and a top, maybe a blazer too. Or Uniqlo for knitwear - they have great colours in merino and I think a bit cheaper than M+S.

Each to their own …

Kilts and pseudo-kilts are highly fashionable at the moment, but also versatile.

The OP hasn’t said if she’s looking for pre-owned garments, but £100 can’t buy a decent trouser suit or even a jacket. It would barely stretch to a good dress. So a very contemporary skirt that she can wear with a top she already has seems a viable option. It’s obviously not the only possibility - and I’m sure the OP is awaiting your suggestions with bated breath, @PPTorPDF!

You are tall and slim, so lots of options. Wide leg trousers and a fine knit or a shirt. Or a midi length dress with flat ankle boots. Or a long bias cut satin skirt with a knit. Depends so much on your industry though.

I've found I feel smarter attending these types of events wearing wide leg trousers and a shirt or close fitting long sleeved top tucked in, with a long smart woollen coat over. I don't see the need to wear a dress/skirt/heels anymore and go for outfits that won't make me spend all day feeling self-conscious. If you're the only female you want to feel confident so stick to what feels good for you!
M&S do some heavy jersey wide leg trousers, which if you search on the website will bring up a load of looks similar.
Best of luck :)

The previous outfit posted wouldn't really be smart enough for a conference I attend so definitely industry specific!

I usually do smart 'work' dress

I think we might need a bit more information - what industry?

From the fact that the OP is concerned with fitting in rather than being free to express herself through her wardrobe, we can probably assume it’s not the creative arts. And if the men aren’t wearing suits to the conference it’s definitely not my former, extremely traditional, city profession. It sounds very much as if ordinary office type clothes are the prevailing culture. Although within a somewhat backward looking industry if she is the only woman attending.

That final fact is why I’d be inclined towards a skirt or dress - simply to underline her difference!

but £100 can’t buy a decent trouser suit or even a jacket. It would barely stretch to a good dress.

Seriously?
Of course you can find a decent jacket or dress for under £100.

@Jellybean85 only one outfit has been posted - and I specifically suggested the skirt not the top. Precisely because it could be calibrated according to the degree of formality required.

For this type of event I'd go with simple clothes (black wide-legged trousers and a fine knit sound ideal) and then jazzy shoes and interesting bag to be remembered.

So I had a quick look on vinted, maybe a dress as it's a ready to go outfit and some smart shoes/heels/boots? Attached some images of what would work fine for my work (law) but I do think this varies. In a more creative industry it might be too boxy and formal

I go to a lot of conferences n a male dominated industry. My tips:

• wear flat shoes!
• Don’t have more than one bag, you’ll be carrying it for 12 hours. have a smart backpack if you can, I have a leather one I love
• dont wear anything that creases
• take another layer to put on rather than wearing something hot as conference halls often vary in temp wildly between rooms
• take big earrings to put on for the dinner, don’t get much more dressed up than this unless formally told to on the invitation
• my go to is Cos for cropped wool trousers with brogues and a cashmere jumper. Simple, quite masculine, understated

Do not wear heels to a conference! You’ll be on your feet walking a long way (probably) for 10-12 hours if you have evening events

This is what I generally do. Wide legged trousers, a fine knit round neck cardigan, converse (only the toes show), and a nice handbag.

I'd feel more comfortable in trousers especially if sitting a lot otherwise you'll be crossing/ uncrossing your legs adjusting your skirt.

And similar to @SecondUsername4me I would wear wide leg trousers with trainers ( I wear AF1s) with a long sleeve t or fine knit jumper

I'd go for trousers, either wide leg or slim and tapered. M&S has a really good trouser section for women....every style and shape. Then a smart tee or shirt tucked in. Maybe a blazer to go over it. For shoes, I'd wear pointed flats. £100 is fine albeit a bit tight, shop on high st or vinted and no probs though

Yy to a back pack to keep your hands free. Don't carry too much.

Dress a little bit more smartly than the men. No boobs/thigh out. Colours, shapes and fabrics that flatter. Shoes you can last a day in.

I personally think black trousers and a top is a bit boring. I prefer dresses, especially in a predominantly male environment.

I wear a lot of shirt style dresses for work (also very male dominated) as they feel fairly smart but also comfy and easy to wear.

Those clothes are surely too boxy and formal for the 21st century, @Jellybean85? They look like Ede and Ravenscroft circa 1995 …

(I’ve been attending conferences across the City, academia and the creative arts basically forever - and I don’t see my fellow female attendees anywhere wearing the exact same pair of wide legged trousers. Some variety is allowed!)

Me too. I don’t think you can go wrong with this in any industry. If it’s not a trainers environment then brogues or a smart loafers. I don’t think anyone really wears those tight skirt dresses / heels posted above

Variety is not only allowed but encouraged!!

In the circles I work in more trendy/fashionable outfits are rare and op might not feel confident standing out, although as the only female will stand out anyway

But yea legal is largely stuck in the past and I doubt we've even made it as far as 1995 in some ways 😂😂 that's why I, and a lot of other posters have asked op about industry to narrow it down

No no to a backpack, they whack people in the face. I cannot stand back packs for that reason

Only if they are large! A slim leather one won’t whack anyone in the face. And at a conference you’ll have to hold your wine and food and then someone will approach about to shake hands- if you have a bag too it doesn’t work.