Outfit for conference presentation!

[Probablyfinebutworried]

I'm presenting at a big conference next month but none of my smart clothes fit any more!

It will be smart but not suit smart. I visited the same client today and wore a long sleeve patterned midi dress with boots and it was spot on. Looking for:

• a dress
• not sleeveless
• midi or maybe knee length but no shorter
• emphasises waist and skims over thighs!
• preferably patterned
• autumn colours, I love bold choices like mustard, rust, orange, red, teal..definitely no pastels

I like the shape of this from French Connection but not the colour. I think k the one I wore today might have been bias cut? It fell so it kind of came in again around the calves and was very flattering.

Budget up to £100 but happy to stretch that for a timeless dress. Bonus points if you can recommend accessories.

Any ideas?

Seasalt have options a bit under budget, I pair with knee high boots and get compliments whatever the pattern.

White stuff have some along those lines

https://www.whitestuff.com/p/4281/megan-jersey-dress/PLUM_PR

Slightly different shape but fab colours https://www.whitestuff.com/p/4787/izzy-midi-dress/GREEN_PR

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-korsh?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Kay is brilliant

Ooh I like the plum purple megan! Thanks! Big label over the pic now - LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS 😂

The other one is nice but feels a bit more boho I think, the gathers at the back and the curved join thing at the front.

I'm really into Boden at the minute- especially their shirt dresses

Forgot to add these

Ooh a few nice ones on Boden. I like the ones you picked out (especially the cord dress) but they're not quite what I was thinking for this event. Quite like these two, but not sure what I'd wear them with, either on top or footwear. I loathe the funny flat slingback things and don't have any knee high boots.

Ghost dresses are generally bias cut. Loads of choice and you could probably pick one up in the sales right now.

Will you have a mic? I was presenting at a conference in July and had a mic pack thrust upon me. I had nowhere to put it on a dress so had to annoyingly hold it the entire time.

Hmm, a mic, I guess so - it's to 100 people. One to ponder.

Hire one at LK Borrowed or try Fold

www.lkborrowed.com/products/leandra-yellow-camelia-print-silk-devor-midi-dress

Nice! I wear all my work dresses with black court shoes and a blazer / business type jacket they tend to work with most dresses (I'm a bit boring with accessories lol) I've been wearing this type of cropped blazer recently with more fitted dresses and I'm into the chunky heeled courts

https://www.lkborrowed.com/products/henrietta-ochre-pink-sketchy-flower-print-dress

https://thefoldlondon.com/product/delia-dress-primrose-yellow-stretch-jacquard/?_gl=11jjhwkd_up*MQ..&gbraid=0AAAAADvgiGp-uESIcZJ-HMw4CfDaj436t

Honestly, patterns are not good on a speaker. You want something that allows your face and hands, to stand out clearly - especially if you use gestures. Look at what weather presenters or even signing interpreters wear on TV. Try and wear a simple non fussy shape in a colour that contrasts with your skin.

Ok, thanks! Cropped blazer sounds good to me and I like the chunky courts. What colour do you think would work? I can get away with black on my feet but black blazer would give me corpse face 😆

Oh noooo... I hadn't thought of this. How about the more muted navy with yellow polka dots I posted below, still too busy? If I'm going for a plain colour then probably burnt orange or forest green are best on me.

Omg that's bloody amazing (but size 6 😭)

Lol, I would go for navy. I wouldn't worry about patterns unless it's been filmed. Most conference's I go to will specify if certain clothing is required for filming etc.

I would either spend more and buy, or rent, something from:

https://www.meandem.com/dresses/long-sleeve-dresses

OK great. Thanks so much for your help!

I always wore separates so it was easy to clip a microphone pack on. Also I used to check what colour the set was. You don't want a red dress on a red background. Avoid really busy prints that are hard to look at and don't wear big heels unless you are good at walking in them. Make sure your microphone is off if you go to the loo!

Get separates or a dress with a firm belt if you are going to be mic'd up. I speak from experience of getting far too intimate with the sound man when wearing a dress!

Have a look at lipsy @ next x

Do note though that the men won't be caring about this at all. Most men in my field would wear blue chinos and a check shirt or even lounge wear!