How to dress for a conference

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Professional Business Conference
Method 2 of 3: Everyday conference
Method 3 of 3: Wearing a Presentation
Tips
What do you need

Often, you attend conferences to find new connections and share experiences with other professionals in your field. As a result, you should head to the best fashion store before doing this. Before deciding what to wear, check to see if there are any look recommendations for the conference you're going to. Otherwise, use your common sense to determine what level of clothing is right for your conference. Also remember, it is advisable that the presentation and reception dress is different from the visiting dress.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Professional Business Conference

1 Take a blazer or jacket. This is especially important for men. You don't have to wear a wool jacket, choose a comfortable jacket in a traditional color (for example, black or brown is a good idea even if you carry it in your hands).
2 If you want to leave an unforgettable impression on yourself, wear trousers. Black, gray, navy and brown trousers are standard color choices.
3 Consider khaki color. Khaki pants are typical for men in business casual style, but women can also wear them in such cases. Such trousers should be ironed without arrows.
4 Women can wear khaki pants, or try a knee-length pencil skirt. Dark colors like black or dark brown are the most traditional and affordable.
5 Wear a collared button-down shirt or polo shirt. Both light and dark shades are welcome, but avoid bold and bright colors.
6 Women can choose from knitted blouses, silk blouses or tight knit sweaters. Choose a top that is not too tight and is long enough. Solid colors work well for most fabrics, while prints and rich hues work well on more elaborate fabrics such as silk.
7 A man must decide whether or not to wear a tie. A tie gives you a more professional look and can be worn if you plan on chatting and making contacts for the future. If you are leaning more towards business casual style, as a rule, you will not need a tie.
8 Wear black or brown leather boots. A man can opt for a lace-up option or more casual loafers, but either way, your shoes should sparkle and be in perfect condition.
9 Shoes with flat or low heels (but not high) are suitable for girls. Prefer closed toe shoes. Black or brown leather shoes are ideal.
10 Match socks to your pants. This applies to both men and women. Black socks are the most common and most versatile color, but you should try to match the color of your socks to the color of your boots or trousers so that they match together. Avoid wearing white or colored socks that can be conspicuous.
11 For women, if you are going to wear a skirt or dress, check to see if the fabric sticks to you. If this happens, wear a petticoat underneath.
12 Use as few accessories as possible. Don't wear unconventional jewelry like lip piercings, and wear thin pieces that don't look flashy.

Method 2 of 3: Everyday conference

1 Wear khakis. Khaki pants are just the type of clothing suitable for casual conferences. Look for wide-leg trousers, the fabric should be ironed without wrinkles.
2 Consider dark jeans as an option. Light and medium blues can look casual, so the darker the better. Opt for jeans with a trouser cut and avoid a low waist or bell-bottoms from the knee.
3 Opt for a knee-length skirt if you are a woman. A pencil or A-shape works well, but you can play more with color and pattern than you could in a professional conference. Avoid extravagant jewelry and stick to a conservative “best Sunday” skirt.
4 Opt for a polo shirt, especially if you are a man. Stop your choice on plain shirts that are not crazy cut. Traditional button-down shirts work well as well.
5 Wear a cute blouse or blouse if you're a woman. Blouses made of cotton, knitwear and silk look especially good. You can choose a button-down option or a blouse that slips over your head.
6 Choose a dress. Instead of a separate bottom and top, women can choose a dress for themselves. Choose an office-style option. As a rule, this dress has a restrained coloring, a conservative neckline and knee length.
7 Opt for leather shoes. For men, brown or black loafers work well. Sneakers look a little too casual, so try to avoid them.
8 Choose a low heel. Women have a little more options to play with shoes for the casual conference, but you should still opt for closed toe shoes with relatively low heels. That being said, feel free to play with color and texture.
9 Match your socks to your shoes. Black, brown, gray, and beige socks work best. Avoid white or patterned socks.
10 Wear hosiery with skirts and dresses. For a very relaxed atmosphere, you don't need to wear tights at all. But if you wear them, there will be nothing wrong with that. If you later suddenly feel that you don't need them, you can take them off.
11 Keep accessories to a minimum. Even in an everyday conference, decorations should still be unobtrusive and simple.
12 Change for dinner. The dress code for dinner may vary. Business casual attire may be sufficient for dinner, but for most evening receptions, you will need to change. A woman should opt for a conservative, cocktail dress, while a man should wear a suit and tie.

Method 3 of 3: Wearing a Presentation

1 Wear a button-down shirt with a collar. White and light pastel colors are best, avoid bright and catchy colors.
2 Throw on a wool blazer. Choose a single-breasted style in a dark color like black, navy blue, gray, or brown. The jacket should be suitable for both men and women.
3 Pants and blazer should match. It's best to choose a ready-made two-piece suit, but if you are going to buy the pants separately, they should match the color of your jacket.
4 Opt for a knee-length skirt if you are a woman. Both trousers and skirts are equally suited to the business style of clothing for women. Choose a pencil skirt that matches the color of your jacket, preferably black, navy, gray, or brown.
5 Wear polished leather shoes. Men should stick to formal lace-up styles like Oxfords, black or dark brown.
6 Wear closed toe leather shoes. Women can wear low heels, but avoid high heels or strappy styles that look sexier than professional. Black and dark brown shoes are the most optimal and least distracting.
7 Choose your socks based on the color of your suit. This applies mainly to men. Black socks are the most common as they create a smooth transition between dark trousers and dark boots.
8 Wear nylon tights if you are a woman. Hosiery is recommended to be worn with skirts and trousers.
9 Choose a conservative tie if you're a man. The tie should be made of a high quality fabric, like silk, and in a muted color or with a dull pattern. Avoid bold shapes and bright prints.
10 Match a belt to your suit and shoes. The color of your belt should fit into the overall color scheme of the outfit.
11 Use as little jewelry as possible. This applies to both men and women. Watches and other jewelry should be discreet. Avoid any unconventional jewelry like eyebrow or nose piercings.

Tips

If you are going to a conference for white collar business professionals or a scientific conference, you must maintain a strict business dress code. Business casual is more suitable for passive onlookers, and you should lean towards traditional business attire if you intend to impress anyone.
Consider the climate. A winter conference will require warmer clothing than a summer conference, even if it is indoors. Also, the Florida conference will require lighter clothing than the Alaska conference.
If you want to take part in a conference with your colleagues, then by default, you must dress in accordance with the office dress code.
Everyday conferences are usually for writers, bloggers and blue collars. If you are in a profession that does not require formal appearance, such as gardening or dog training, you do not have to dress formally to attend a conference. Business casual or smart casual is a generally accepted standard, especially for listeners.
Giving a presentation requires more impressive dressing than just listening to one speaker. You need to make a lasting impression on your audience, and a well-groomed suit is the best start you can provide yourself.