"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.

Yes I am worried about that with buying shoes! I have to walk from King's Cross to Covent Garden tomorrow then Covent Garden to the strand on Tuesday morning.

I can't afford the tube if I buy trousers or shoes (even second hand) I can expense things like travel I can't book on our portal but don't get that back until the end of November.

If you have time and inclination to go on a charity shop hunt I think you could look at smartening up any of the items you have, which would boost the overall smartness of the outfit

For example - replace the cherry blouse with a blouse in one colour

or

Replace the maxi skirt with black trousers

or

Replace the boots either smarter shoes / boots

However…I honestly don’t think you need to. No one is going look you up and down aghast in anything you have posted. Make sure everything is neatly ironed and boots are clean/polished. Bit of effort on hair and make-up. You will look perfectly decent!

This thread is making me feel like a look like a bog troll day to day 🤣

Especially the poster who felt it necessary to mention that I should be clean 😵

If your budget is that tight OP don’t think about spending more on your outfit. Honestly you don’t need to.

Business wear means the men are expected to wear suits/blazers. Honestly you’ll be fine in the shirt and skirt. The boots aren’t ideal if you can find loafers they’ll work better, but I wouldn’t panic.

Just read your updates on budget. Just wear the boots. You’ll be fine. Goes without saying, hair (and makeup if you’re inclined) should be really neat. If you don’t have a smart coat, get it it off and over your arm as you walk in.

I went for a meeting at a big city bank and people wore maxi dresses/skirts with blazers & brogues/ shoes/ boots if clients facing & trainers if not, blouses/shirts & trousers with smart blazer or cardigan. So elements of a suit but different colours, fabrics & textures to make it modern and definitely not a matching 2/3 piece suit.

What you have suggested is fine, I'd go for the dress and boots or maxi skirt, blouses and boots.

Do NOT spend money that stretches you. I’d do the cherry blouse and skirt, because I think it would photograph better. And I’d go with red/bright lipstick as lighting at these venues always makes people look washed out. Do you wear earrings? Most photo captures will be waist up so focus on top half.

Really, I think you should just wear what you have if money is that tight. Weather forecast seems to be quite wet for the coming week - you are better off on the tube.

What is the worst that can happen? Everyone else turns up in smarter clothes - highly unlikely, but suppose they do - it's not the end of the world. If your boss were to say anything, just tell them you'll note the feedback for the future.

He definitely would not say anything. I work for a nice guy and he knows my value, even if I turned up in a bin bag! Because of this I do not want to let the side down and have this self - pressure to make sure I don't show him up!

I did say in my OP I don't have spare to buy anything new (even new to me really) so I just needed help choosing the best option out of what I have.

The skirt, shirt and boots is probably the best with black thickish tights, so there is no gap at the ankle

I agree.

They're a tech co. Usually present as quirky (same as all the others, lol).

You're the client company, so are there as guests in your role as the company you are. The company you are doesn't wear suits.

Business dress here means don't wear your shorts or dirty jeans!

I've been to the Savoy and attended conferences in various non-matching top and skirt/trousers combos, and this was back when suits & heels were normal. Nobody cared, and I didn't stand out.

If you want your cherry shirt and black skirt to look 'smarter', add a belt.

Have a good time! Luxuriate in the nice toilets 😄

Take the bus instead of the tube as it's cheaper

Ooh are they nice toilets? 🤣

I am a bit excited to be going to the savoy. Such a beautiful historic building that's seen so many historical events and scandals lol.

There is litterally no other reason I would ever have a reason to walk in so woo to fancy toilets 😂

Skirt and shirt or the dress will be absolutely fine. Boots better with the skirt as you will see less of them (I like the boots but wouldn’t be my first pick for a conference). With tech sector slightly edgy is always an option not sure what trainers you have in terms of style but with the dress they may look cool and a bit edgy rather than overly casual.

my experience is accountancy conferences business dress means not a hoody, jeans and trainers. Financial services means suit and a tie.

Will look at that, thank you

As well as the tech sector not being hugely smart as a rule, it tends to skew male. So I expect the average attendee is going to far less well versed in the intricacies of whether a boot is a smart or casual than people posting in S&B.

I just googled the date + savoy hotel (sorry, over-invested!) and there’s loads of pics from the previous conference, and yes it definitely skews male and what people are wearing is no more than smart-casual.

You’ll be absolutely fine OP, wear whichever outfit you feel most comfortable and confident in.

Can you do what expensively dressed women in plays on TV seem to do, travel in trainers and change into your boots when you get there? Do you have a large smart bag to put them in? Even if not, I assume the Savoy has a cloakroom where you can leave them.

I think out of your options, I would go for the cherry blouse and long skirt with the boots. Those boots would look better with the longer skirt.

Slightly weird option, but I wonder how it would look if you wore the black skirt over the dress, so it would look like a black and white blouse worn with a long skirt. Might be worth a try.

Alternatively do you happen to have black jeans you could wear with the cherry blouse? In the tech industry I would happily rock up in black jeans and a smart top.

Skirt, blouse and boots, done. No point spending money you don't have on stuff you'll not wear again.

Take the bus instead of the tube as it's cheaper

Covent Garden to Strand/Savoy is perfectly walkable, if OP is averagely fit and able. Bus or Tube would be unnecessarily complicated, I think.

Such odd phrasing, no wonder you’re confused. In work settings I have only ever heard of “business smart” or “smart casual” or “casual”, never “business wear”. Business smart” is usually suits, sometimes ties, for men and for women, tailored dresses/ skirts/ trousers/ jackets and no trainers. Most conferences would be “business casual” for comfort, unless very distinguished guests.

Either way, some great suggestions on the thread already for business casual.

Wow, that's a little creepy....

The drsss with a jacket but definitely not the boots, they are too chunky.