Like it or not, you’re often judged by your appearance as well as your professionalism when it comes to work, which means figuring out what to wear to a conference can be tricky.
Perhaps you usually work from home, so you don’t go into an office environment at all, or maybe the event you are attending calls for a more casual – or a more formal – type of business dress than you usually wear. We will give you all the best outfit ideas for your next conference, so you can feel confident in front of a new set of people, whether you’re preparing for an in-person event or a virtual conference.
When deciding on how to dress for a conference, there are a few things to keep in mind.
We’re all working differently these days. It may be that you travel for business and are heading to a physical, in-person event, or perhaps you are attending a virtual conference.
Either way, you will have to consider the weather and the formality of the venue when choosing your outfits.
If you have been invited to a conference, you may find that there is a dress code on the invitation – both for the conference itself and any associated evening events. Make sure you follow the code, while adding your own style twists so you can fit in with the crowd – but also stand out!
If you will be travelling for a few days, it’s best to consider your conference attire in terms of a capsule wardrobe. That way, everything will go with everything else – making getting dressed each day a breeze. Read on and you’ll see we’ve put together an example conference capsule for you!
Does your hotel have a pool, for example or will you get the chance to catch up with old friends in the destination you are going to. You may want to take your swimsuit, or some more casual wear.
The style of outfit you choose will depend on the type of conference you are attending. Below are a few outfit examples which should fit in at most conferences, presentations and meetings…
If there’s no dress code on your conference invitation, your safest bet is to opt for outfits which are “business casual”. Mix formal elements of business attire with more casual items such as a printed blouse or flat loafers, for example. A jumpsuit is a great option as it can easily be dressed up or down.
If the conference that you are attending is very formal, this will usually mean a more traditional business suit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still add your own style elements. Think about adding pops of color to make sure you stand out, while fitting in.
Jona @the50plusgirl above opts for a tuxedo style top, and adds personality with her shoes. This outfit would easily take her from a conference to an evening event.
Steal her look with this similar top, blazer, pants, pumps and bag (another option here).
Many of us are holding meetings via video conferencing tools at the moment. If this is the case for you, then sitting in your home in a full business suit doesn’t seem right. Concentrate on wearing something smart and stylish on your top half. We’d avoid busy prints and patterns on camera.
It really doesn’t matter whether you are wearing jeans, shorts (or even pajama bottoms) on your bottom half, as no one will see. Choose a stylish blouse. And, don’t forget your jewelry.
A conference or work presentation often isn’t all about working during the day. You may find that there are evening events too – perhaps as a way to meet other attendees, or to wrap up the event – so you need to factor this in when thinking about what to wear to a conference. You could add a blazer to the dress below for day time, and then wear as it is for evening.
Lizzy @whatlizzyloves above (read her style interview here) chooses a red dress. Red is a great choice to stand out at a conference.
Recreate her outfit with this similar dress (another option here), sandals and bag.
If you are heading away for a few days, you will find some of the best pieces to choose for a conference (below), which you can mix and match so you’re presentation ready.
You’re likely to want one shirt or blouse for each day of the conference but you can take fewer pants and skirts. Opt for plain colors, or stylish prints. Look for luxurious materials like silk which will keep you looking chic, and feeling cool even if the conference venue is hot.
Greetje @no_fear_of_fashion above (read her style interview) chooses a classic white blouse, and adds statement jewelry.
Get her look with this similar shirt, wide leg pants, shoes and necklace.
A blazer is the perfect jacket for a conference. If your work is casual, you can wear your blazer with dark jeans. Or, you can wear more formally with a matching pair of pants or skirt. If you want to make sure you stand out – perhaps because you will be speaking on stage – you could choose a bright color or a print and wear with neutrals.
Take a look at how to fit a blazer to make sure yours looks just right.
If you need outerwear for heading outside your conference venue, a trench coat is a good option as you can wear with day and evening wear.
You may prefer pants or perhaps you would rather pack dresses. Either way, one pair of trousers or one skirt per two days should be fine. Dresses can easily be worn for daytime or evening receptions.
Fonda @savvysouthernchic above shows how a bright color is a great way to dress up your neutrals.
You should be able to manage with one pair of shoes, particularly if you opt for a neutral shade. However, you may want to choose to pack two – one pair of heels and one pair of flats. You can always wear the flats to travel to your event, and pack the heels so your shoes don’t take up too much space.
Arguably the most important thing to think about are your accessories. If you choose a palette of neutrals – such as blacks, navy and white for your conference attire, you can easily change your outfits each day by adding vibrant accessories.
Nora @juststylela above (read her style interview) shows how you could print mix for your conference with a stripe shirt and print scarf. There are more tips on print mixing in this article.
Last but not least, if you are going away for a business conference, you will need a bag the right size to put a few days of outfits in. Choose one on wheels that will easily fit into a cabin. That way, you won’t have to wait for your luggage when you arrive at your destination. The BagSmart laptop bag (below) has good reviews for its spaciousness and durability.
Below you can see many of the clothes, shoes and accessories from above put together in a conference capsule. You can mix and match to create different outfits.
Would you know what to wear to conference? I’d love to hear about your own essentials.
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Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.
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