what to wear at an academic conference dinner?

[hatwoman]

any ideas? I have a black skirt (short-ish) with black polo and colourful necklace, or with a bright top. or could wear black jeans with either top (too casual? and my only suitable shoes are rather tarty). or I could just wear what I've been wearing all day - which will either be a black suit (with colourful top) or a brown skirt with shirt and tank top (which seems too day-timey).

do not overdress - you know everyone else will be wearing hairy tweeds or socks with sandals

black jeans sound fine, the short skirt will scare them

I would wear a maxi dress with a denim jacket and flat shoes.

what mrsb said: no-one will notice or care

Hmm, I'd avoid jeans for a Dinner to be honest, I'd go for the black suit you've been wearing all day.........men never "change" for dinner in these circumstances so why should you?

DH (an academic) wants to know what your subject is, and what's the setting? He has in the past gone from fairly casual to full Kilt rig-up. Very much depends on the formality of the location . . .

Am very at all your low opinions of academics' style. Some of them do make a little effort you know.

For these types of things I'd normally go quite conservative. Either black trousers with a slightly evening-ish type top (nothing too revealing) or otherwise a very safe knee-length black dress with some jewellery to dress it up a bit.

If they are scientists avoid a short skirt.

Your suit that you've been wearing all day. You can dress it up with a fancy scarf or some other accessories if you want. As a Conference Director for far too many years, the staff never have time really to change and you want to appear professional at the evening event.

I go to physicists conference. You could wear anything that didn't reveal erogenous zones, and they would never notice. I'd usually wear something like black skirt and a top if I have time to change though

i think jeans will be too casual

assuming its a formal dinner one night of the conference, not a bunch of you popping out somewhere for a meal

how short is shortish skirt? unless its really tarty i would go for that and nice top. do you really have NOTHING else to wear? don't you have one single frock?

You may not actually get a chance to change anyway - sometimes the schedule involves going from one location straight to the dinner at another.

Something fairly safe like this would be fine. Not too dressed up but not so casual either.

pmsl at some of these responses. kristina - yes I have other stuff to were - but I thought these were the most suitable. I have a couple of black dresses - but one isn't very comfy and one is way too smart.good point about time to change - need to check the schedule and locations. that M&s dress is great - would be good for the day time with a jacket and then just lose the jacket in the evening. no time to buy anything though. skirt is knee length - not tarty short.

Was it you who bought a fabbo dress from either LK Bennet or Damsel In A Dress recently, or did I imagine that?

it was me! that's the one that's too smart. well, too sexy actually. I would feel, erm, unprofessional.

Aha - glad I got the right person. It was so gorgeous though - much nicer than the sound of the things you list in your OP.

Is it a skirt suit or trouser suit? I think that is maybe the way to go, with a cami under it and a nice necklace.

Er, fromgirders, some of us actually are academics so feel qualified to comment...