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.

I liked an oufit yesterday...camel and black patterned fine pleated skirt in a swishy material, black fine cashmere roll neck, black tights and black loafers. Looked really good. Boots would have looked good as well. All on a 30s to 40s woman. Quite tall and slim.

Would this one from Hobbs be suitable?

https://www.hobbs.com/product/abi-dress/0222-5224-9045L00-NAVY-12.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20413593267&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20413593267&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhomtBhDgARIsABcaYynCqlbXu4F52IDXrEuCrQuKiEA9HG5FDE-2MZ7bwVP3To8jVXdekg8aAvH3EALw_wcB

This would be the easiest thing in the world to wear. Just add knee high boots and go.

(Surprising as I’d given up on Cos long ago - but this is wonderfully contemporary.)

That's a good choice.

A raincoat?

I can't help with OP's imposter syndrome, but...
She works in haulage
It's an internal company meeting.
The guys aren't even wearing ties
She only needs to look like an office worker, it isn't formal.

I'm a bit confused when OP says she'll be only female. No females from any other branch are attending? Or is OP only F from her own branch. How many people are coming to this "internal conference", anyway?

I’m interpreting the OP’s query as an opportunity for a very slight upgrade to her usual working wardrobe - to meet a new challenge that might possibly be a step towards some career progression.

(I mean, that’s the role conference attendance usually plays for anyone not already at the top of the ladder.)

You're right. The men, at most, will be slightly smarter than a normal work day.

You're right. The men, at most, will be slightly smarter than a normal work day.

Whenever we had sales conferences for all of our sales teams, everyone just wore jeans. We used to be holed up in a hotel for a weekend. The day times were for serious stuff, and the evening was for fun stuff and lots of drinking

Thank you again for everyone's input on the thread, I don't want to be too identifying so haven't gone in to much detail but I'm definitely the only female attending. . Sorry I can't name check everyone, but I'm grateful for every reply.

I'm reading and taking it all in, there's been some fantastic advice and tips. Someone hit the nail on the head in that it's office wear but elevated. So not dissimilar to what I wear but a bit nicer.

I also appreciate another poster saying that given the environment no one will be looking that closely what I'm wearing anyway, this is so true! I've worked in industries where it did matter, here not so much.

The slight totty derail reminded me of 20 years ago when my boss at the time asked me to wear a short skirt for exhibitions. Shocking looking back!

Ive been shopping and had a good root through my wardrobe. For some reason I rarely wear wide leg trousers for work, so they'll look different than normal. So thanks for that idea. I've found a pair of khaki wide legs similar to the attached that I love and feel comfortable in, plus they don't crease. Thinking with this new black top and wool camel coat I have for one of the days and maybe this Zara blouse I already own with new Reiss black trousers the other.

Nothing groundbreaking but that isn't my aim.

Hmm just realised on seeing the pics I'm all in the same colours both days 🤔

I also tried this on which I loved but it was the last one and looked like it had been used to clean the shop floor.

These are the trousers, not exciting but hang nicely and better than the ones I already own.

Just thinking that when we had an internal workshop, staff who normally turned up in suit & tie came along in t-shirts with many tattoos on full view. It was less not more smart than usual.

If it were me I'd go wide leg trousers, a waistcoat (with thinnish long sleeve top underneath) and coat or blazer over the top, think M&S would be your best bet. You can wear the wide leg trousers with ballet flats or a low/mid heel (as I find wide leg trousers rudiculously long).

Similar to this outfit
https://www.marksandspencer.com/tailored-waistcoat/p/clp60606031?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

Hmm … I’d burn that tiger top, @Kellioo. Littlewoods circa 1973. It really isn’t workwear - and doesn’t reflect well on your professional persona.

@TheOriginalFrench 🤣

If you are the only woman in a sea of men I wouldn't wear skirts or dresses. Instead I would opt for trousers and a relaxed/oversized shirt. The goal isn't to be pretty but to be bigger so you won't look petite among the men. I think Reiss/Hobbs/Whistles all have good trousers on sale under £100, and hopefully you already have a shirt/blouse lying around?

For goodness’ sake! It’s the 21st century - working women don’t have to go about in disguise. Would all the men be thrown into a frenzy at the sight of the OP’s (possibly booted) shins?

One can wear a dress or skirt without consciously aiming to look ‘pretty’ - as the Cos dress above demonstrates.

(If you are seriously suggesting that the OP wouldn’t be safe at the conference if she wore a dress - that’s a very different matter.)

Thank you. I was actually lost for words about how to reply to that post. Thank you for doing the work.

"The goal isn't to be pretty but to be bigger so you won't look petite among the men."

I gotchu op..

Same as the men. Pants and nice shirt. Don’t sweat it too much. Dudes don’t notice unless they think it’s too slutty.

How old are you? I’m 40 but some of these suggestions are too old and stuffy for me. I’m senior management in professional job but I love fashion, I’m probably on the overdressed side most days (mum of two so outside work I’m very casual and this is my chance to wear nice clothes now that going out is rare occurrence) but it’s 2024 so I don’t really wear tailored clothes anymore, most of my wardrobe is Zara. Nice dress, blazer and flats is my go to, but wide leg trousers and nice shirt work well too, usually with block heel.

Some great suggestions already mentioned. I would go for the trousers & great shirt/blouse combo that suited me, but also made me feel confident. With the top, I would go for a colour (not black or neutral) so it made the best of my colouring, or I'd have a scarf to do that. I wouldn't be aiming to stand out, but I would want to be myself & the use of colour makes people look/feel confident, I think. Also, the men are likely to be in dark/neutral colours.
I would be giving myself a pep talk about the fact that I have been invited, so I'm totally justified in being there. I would like to come across as happy, confident and interested to be there. I would put a smile on my face as i walk in, and I would make a point of chatting to lots of people, in order to make me feel like it's been worth the effort.
I often find conferences can be full of people who don't all actually know each other that well, but there can be a bit of metaphorical "willy waving!" (Sorry, I can't think of a more appropriate way to phrase it!). Often it's people stood around trying to show off a bit and out do each other. It might not happen in your industry, but this always makes me smile & I love people watching, as I observe the interactions & see who is trying to out do each other.
Go & enjoy your day. Let us know what you ended up wearing & how it went.

🤩 I agree. This type of outfit is very dated and uncomfortable and more akin to a full suit and tie for the male attendees. If you don’t like trousers choose a dress/ skirt which is midi length and and at least a-line or pleated. https://www.crewclothing.co.uk/womens/clothing-and-accessories/womens-dresses-and-skirts/natasha-dress-blue-wsj097/?sku_s=1259338&glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqY6tBhAtEiwAHeRopUvZbyQ0sHYPe9bjdVO__miQcIejaLS1r10CHYKhk-j5apUzSKdw3xoCd9MQAvD_BwE#fo_c=2679&fo_k=e978f0a6151f09283d2d04a105452fac&fo_s=gplauk

Same height size - get a jumpsuit or a simple black dress with a jacket

It’s just an internal work conference. Don’t overthink this, the men aren’t! It’s crap like this that sets women back FFS.

Just wear something from your wardrobe. Wear whatever you would wear for a nice lunch out with your friends just make sure it’s comfortable.