"Business wear" conference on Tuesday Help!

[BelatrixLestrange]

Surely, nobody has worn bloody business wear since covid? I thought we all realised life is too short 😭

I don't have spare to buy anything new and need to look smart.

I have these things already, do they go together? Could I pull it off as smart "Business wear"?

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/GH365

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/UL370

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/EM533

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/JT862

What combination would you choose? I only have the one pair of boots. All my other shoes are trainers.

Black & white dress with the boots

I think all the items are lovely, the dress might go with the boots but I'd need to see .... Otherwise I think the cherry shirt with the long skirt and boots would be fine. The boys aren't ideal imo but if you have nothing else you've got to go with what you've got! At the end of the day, nobody will say otherwise so try not to stress too much. Is there anyone else going with you that you could gauge what they're wearing?
I hate "business wear" and also have no smart shoes too go with anything.

"Business wear" these days seems to mean little more than 'not jeans or trainers' so I am sure you will be fine.😆

I'm worries the boots will "dress down" the dress but maybe the shirt will "dress up" the boots? 🤣😭

I do have a colleague going with me but she is always in business wear anyway (just her preferred style) so she will have on a tailored suit and loafers!

Oh gosh do you think so? Am I worrying over nothing?

First ever conference and I've never worked for anyone who required "Business wear". It's at the bloody savoy hotel too! I'm anxious not to stick out like a sore thumb.

I wouldn’t call any of those business wear, except maybe the cherry print shirt at a push. Those boots are definitely NOT business wear! And especially not at the Savoy.

Have you got any friends you can borrow something from?

Based on what I see, yes - I never see women in business suits anymore. I was idly looking online to see what's available in the women's suit category nowadays as all mine are at least 15 years old, and while you can still get them, there is nothing like the plethora of choices that was available even 10 or so years ago. Last time I wore one was for an internal job interview in 2014.

Could you possibly manage to get a pair of black trousers? Always useful to have. They would look great with the cherry shirt and boots. If not, the long skirt with the shirt and boots.

What will you do for a jacket?

The dress and the boots would be your best bet. Do you have a jacket?

Are you speaking or just attending op? What kind of conference and what kind of industry? I'd wear trainers! Blouse, trousers, trainers. I don't give a shit about dress codes though - and consider myself 'dressed up' if I'm wearing a nice outfit with make up and hair done.

Hmm … It’s entirely up to you, @BelatrixLestrange, but I wouldn’t be happy to turn up to a conference at The Savoy in any of those items. I definitely wouldn’t feel smart.

If you really don’t have anything else, is there anyone you could borrow from?

(Obviously no one will say anything; I’m only giving an opinion anonymously because you’ve asked …)

Black and white dress with boots will be absolutely fine as business wear.

Smart black trousers and a sweater. Done.

For context on my comment above about wearing trainers - last thing I went to at the Savoy was an awards so. People were as dressed up as you like, some more low key, but the coolest woman there was wearing a bog standard trouser suit with flouro trainers. No one cared.
I think perhaps it depends on your role etc. I've definitely felt I can be more and more casual the more senior I've got weirdly. But I don't work for a stuffy bank or law firm - I know friends who still feel they need to wear shift dresses and court shoes. Horrendous. But yes for a conference I'd be wearing comfy shoes especially if I'm schlepping into central London

I was at a business event in September that said business wear. It was a complete mix. I bought wide leg black tros from Tesco which I wore with a T-shirt top. I looked smart and fitted in completely. Complete variation in what everyone was wearing, not many blazers at all. if in doubt, I always opt for black as it looks timeless.

The black and white dress - with the boots at a push. But I would try to borrow a pair of more dressy shoes.

M&S and Next seem to have a number of ‘trouser suits’ in. They seem to be making a comeback. I may be desperately old-fashioned but none of those clothes you linked to look like business wear to me. Possibly the shirt with good trousers.

From the things you already have I would say the dress and boots, or the shirt with black trousers and the boots.

Dress fine
Shirt fine
Trousers are fine.

The boots are not. Sorry.

Yes, I agree with this. Certainly where I work in London, women are starting to dress more smartly again this year. There are a lot more structured jackets re-appearing at work and actual, er, shoes. Definitely a move back to smarter after the last few years of super-casual.

I just got a great pair of shoes from the east coast charity shop for a funeral .
they are new or worn once .
ate you near charity shops . Good thing is if they are a little worn in .

I miss skirt suits. I look like Ronnie Corbett in a trouser suit but always got compliments in a skirt suit. Next used to sell brilliant skirt suits in the 1990s.

Ive visited conferences all over the world (academic) and it never occurred to me to follow any particular dress code unless I was presenting. Then I wore a jacket with dark trousers and flats. I am not a jeans and trainers kind of person. Even back then (especially in the USA) many people did wear jeans, t-shirts and even hoodies.

Yup I know, but it's the smarted stuff I own.

No I don't have anyone I can borrow from.

I need to choose between those things above. Alternatively, I do have a navy polkadot blouse.

I don't own black trousers 😊

I have to choose from what I have. These are the smartest things I own.