"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.

Heaven’s sake!

No one has said the OP has to wear 1980s court shoes. But there’s a huge difference between a contemporary, inexpensive smart casual look courtesy of Uniqlo and the flouncy, floppy, blousy prints and floor sweeping garments the OP is proposing.

It’s unfair to pretend they’ll each look equally suitable. And if you can’t tell the difference - well other people can.

I will wear my fleece lined raincoat same as I always do and not wear it indoors?

@BelatrixLestrange so you don’t own any actual shoes? You say you just have the boots shown and everything else is trainers?

Do you own any trousers? Or jackets? What do you usually wear?

I honestly think you'll be OK but you could try a charity shop if you want cheap black trousers.

Attending and may need to be on stage foe a photo at some point with my boss!

We are a client of a tech company who want us there as their most current clients to promote the solution they've provided us with I guess.

My boss will be speaking on stage.

Blouse, black skirt and boots would be my vote, or even posh trainers if you’ve got them but they’d need to be more slick Onitsuka Tiger than chunky Hoff, if you see what I mean.

I heard of someone presenting who wore jeans and a fleece having missed the smart business guidelines and felt a bit stupid. I think the tide is turning on post Covid casual.

Just a thought but have you asked what others are wearing? You don't need to make heavy weather of it, just a quick post in an existing Teams chat if you won't see anyone in person.

Black and white dress with the boots. It might not be the smartest outfit but it will be absolutely fine if you just attending an event.

For future though, I would have a pair of black trousers in your wardrobe for things like this , you cant go wrong with a pair of smart black trousers.

No, I don't have trousers. I haven't worn black "work" trousers since I worked in hospitality as a teenager.

I wear jeans, cycle shorts, leggings and joggers, paired with plain black or white tshirts and various walking fleeces and sweatshirts. I have trainers, one navy pair one baby pink pair, a pair of birkenstocks for summer and these boots. Then I have this skirt, two blouses (the other is navy polkadot) and the dress.

That's it.

If you were going to call at a charity shop for anything tomorrow, I would go for black blazer. I think this would turn the blouse and skirt, or dress, with the boots, into an acceptable outfit.
Whatever you wear, make sure your boots are very clean, hair washed and very tidy/blow dried, low key jewellery, low key make up.

The invitation to the conference specifies business wear.

Yes, but that means different things to different people! If you asked you could get a feel for how others in your company are interpreting it.

I definitely think if I had a choice I'd rather be over dressed than under.

I may have to go charity shop shopping tomorrow. I really cannot afford more than £5/£10 though.

Should I focus on shoes if I go and see what I can find tomorrow?

Honestly I think you’ll be fine. I’d go with the blouse, skirt and boots. Yes it’s not super smart but unless you are in jeans trainers and a scruffy t-shirt I don’t think anyone will be scrutinising how smart your boots are.

You say you’d rather be over dressed than under - realistically on a £5-£10 budget unless you are v lucky with your charity shop hunting you aren’t going to tip into over dressed. But a black skirt boots and a blouse is not going to draw negative attention.

If it’s a tech-industry event, that’s not an industry exactly well-known for being smartly turned out. I imagine ‘business wear’ just means ‘don’t turn up in scruffy trainers and ripped jeans’ in that context.

If you can get black trousers, they will mostly hide the boots if you're worried the boots aren't businesslike enough, and people are less likely to notice what you're wearing on your feet anyway.

I'd focus on some nice black shoes to go with the blouse and skirt. I always wear b business style clothes and I think shoes are what cam dress something up

Business wear is very broad these days.
I just went to a work conference and while no woman was wearing jeans, no one was in heels and I don’t think I saw a single woman in a suit . I was about as close as I ever get these days, with a pair of tailored trousers, a shirt with a collar and a non-matching jacket plus boots.

I think in your shoes I’d wear the dress with opaque tights and the boots. Do your hair and makeup so you look neat. It’ll be fine.

This. Some black trousers worn with the cherry print blouse and the boots will work enough to get away with the outfit. Do NOT wear those boots with the dress.

The long skirt will hopefully hide the boots, wear with black tights in case skirt rides up when sitting down. And the cherry print blouse although I wouldn’t wear a cherry print blouse in a smart business setting.

I don’t see why everyone is aghast at the boots - I’m a fairly smart dresser and wear Chelsea boots like that regularly- admittedly mine are a slightly smarter style but I really don’t think the casual observer is going to notice. Wear the long skirt and they will be far from obvious anyway and attention would be drawn to the cherry print on the blouse anyway.

Maybe there’s some post-pandemic smarter clothing creeping into some sectors but in sectors I am familiar with it’s rare to see women I proper ‘business wear’ regardless of the occasion.

I think the skirt is great. Team with smart trainers and mention comfort all day. Plain t shirt or shirt, with cardigan/jumper or blazer.

I would try to get some black trousers to go over the boots and wear with the cherry patterned shirt or some shoes to wear the dress. I would generally go to Next or M&S for black work trousers but Primark may have them if you want cheaper

OP is looking at second hand as budget is only £10.

Whether buying new or used, I would be wary of wearing unfamiliar shoes at an event where I might be on my feet a lot, in case they rub or pinch. No degree of looking smart is worth having sore feet all day!

I go to business conferences at least twice a year and there are all styles apart from jeans and trainers (women); a few men do wear jeans but out of 100 men you may see 2 in immaculate jeans. Definitely no trainers except for a few sparkly pairs on women who are on their feet all day!
I always wear business wear to conferences but otherwise, I don’t, and I’m in a public facing role.
So skirt, top and boots are fine.