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'm at a works conference (large event, all internal, across all levels) this week and thankfully in the dress code it says "comfortable clothing encouraged, jeans trainers accepted"

So I'll be doing exactly that!

I wear fitted pencil skirts, blazers, shirts or nice tops, trousers, Scamp and Dude dresses and a variety of clothes. Basically I'd wear anything I would normally wear to the office. I have been to lots of client facing meetings and conferences and you just need to be smartly dressed but don't let that erase your personality.

If professional services type thing,!id mirror male uniform which is now either suit (not everyday - just for more formal occasions) or tailored trousers and smart shirt/ blouse. Jacket optional.
I'd get smart trousers in cut you like at Marks & Spencer or eg Hobbs sale or see various brands on Clearance on Next website. Can sometimes get good bargain Reiss etc on there.
Shirt/ blouse you like. Maybe if you'd feel more comfortable, a jersey type jacket or smart cardigan jacket - see Whistles knitted blazer or equivalent. A week or so ago someone on here had post re smart black cardie options.
Good luck.

I often think a dress is an easy option because it’s a complete outfit. If it’s quite a dressed up industry I’d wear a navy or black dress with a patterned jacket - H and M often do nice looky/likely Chanel boucle patterned jackets or you do a patterned cardi if less dressed up.

If the men are wearing the chinos and shirt kind of look rather than suits it's fairly informal. I'd go with the suggestion of comfortable wide black trousers and a blouse or fine knit jumper. No ultra high heels.

I would stick to a trousers suit. M&S have very reasonably prices trousers + jackets.

Smart but professional. Black trousers and fancy shirt. A simple jacket or classy cardigan. Dress for the job you want not the job you have. Unless you look tarty or as if you are going to a party no one minds a woman being a bit overdressed but underdressed can look like you couldn’t be bothered.

This is the suit I currently have for work and it’s a nice suit. I have h to e bootcut trousers as I prefer bootcut to slim leg. I have it I the grey but I plan to buy the Navy one too.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ST166086/U57964#U57964

Just get a nice blouse to go with it (I buy mine from Hawes and Curtis in the sale but also have some nice ones from H&M).

Alternatively, if the men wear chinos etc then chinos, a nice jacket (linen or a suit jacket) and a nice blouse? I also like tue chinos from next as they are well cut for me (also carrying a few extra lbs)

You are the only woman attending. So No-one. Cares. A. Damn. what you wear. Wear whatever you normally wear for work.

Not rtft but if you are speaking at the conference then don’t wear a dress for your talk - wear trousers or a skirt for somewhere to attach the mic pack.
Good luck and enjoy your conference!

Wear trousers and a shirt/blouse yourself. ( forget the tie😊)

No, a trouser suit would be much better

Chinos from Gap and a nice top or shirt. Don't wear a skirt unless you're really a skirt person.

Why buy all new, unless your wardrobe is too casual, you can bet the men will not be in new outfits. Look through you wardrobe: dark coloured wide leg trousers or skirt knee length or longer; white or cream top with smart jacket to tone with trousers/skirt; comfortable shoes or smart boots. Top up, if you have to, with purchases

I loved wearing a trouser suit with a collarless, round necked top. Suits are great because you have a jacket/blazer option which you can remove if you get warm - but always go for a collarless, slimline, (tailored) un-tucked in top underneath.

Loads of shops like Next and Wallis will have suitable outfits, or browse online (I'm 15 years out of date).

If you are slim and 5ft10 you will look amazing in anything, but keep it simple and professional. I always wore low heeled black ankle boots that went with anything. Nowadays you can have straight or flared legs. (I'd avoid skinny for a work suit, if there is such a thing).

A shift dress and a jacket in black/grey/navy always looks professional though you need heels to set them off well. Likewise a trouser suit or trousers with a jacket (and you can wear boots or flats - probably more comfortable for a conference). This firm, https://www.roman.co.uk do a lot of this and have 20% of your first order.

Wallis, Next, Roman?

I’m out.

Somehow I think Op is wasting much more time on planning her outfit than any of the men will be. Sounds like they will be going in tidy but not smart workwear, so she should do the same.

You know unless you have been in this situation , with regards being the lone female trying to climb the ladder, its difficult to imagine what you are trying to portray, and as such how you dress is part of this.
I have been there many times and without going all Barbie , it can't be too feminine, it can't be too short or tight yadda yadda.
For me this is part of the process I go through when choosing what to wear for a work event , I also believe you dress for the next role and not the current role. And it should be fun as well ! :-)

Sounds like we’re a similar size and height - these trousers from M&S are really flattering on me. I’d wear with flat brogues or loafers and shirt.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/tapered-ankle-grazer-trousers/p/clp60546426?color=BLACK&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r3c2

Agreed, this is very good advice. A senior female manager said the same to me when I was starting in management.

If you go too glam you won't be taken seriously in my experience.

Is OP "trying to climb a ladder"? I didn't see where she said that.

Typically we are all trying to climb a ladder either with social acceptance or respect for her skill set at work or career goals. It depends on your definition of ladder

The Next sale is a great place to look for this kind of thing. I’d say either wear suit trousers & blouse or a below knee (midi or pencil) dress with a suit jacket over it.

if you need to get the trousers/ top or dress then now is an ideal time to look in the sales at M&S Autograph & Next. Don’t stress yourself about a jacket if you need to get everything from scratch.

if you already have an outfit that fits the bill the a suit jacket will just look super smart & give you that extra bit of confidence. Mango is great for them, Zara can be too.

the key really is wearing what you feel comfortable in so that you don’t need to worry about being uncomfortable on top of everything else.

Go,be a more confident version of yourself & knock them dead.

I’m going to be controversial and say do not wear trainers at a conference unless that is 100^ ours and everyone else’s everyday wear culture. And if you have zero external professiona conference speakers or invitees.

You’re not behind a desk but much more on show full length and seated at a conference. Some of the male speakers will wear a tie with their shirt surely so you want to be able to stand next to them and still blend in. So smart clean flat shoes or boots 100%, not trainers and the rest you’ve had good advice about.