Conference Clothes

Lifeat50

Are cropped pants appropriate for conference?

I have read no denim. I am assuming no shorts. Any other no-no's?

Ginger428

All the No Nos you read about & when you get there you will be amazed at what you see. Most of the people are dressed proper, but ALOT are not...

wadesgirl

I usually wear cropped pants to conference but nice ones, no jean crops.

DebbieJ

It is a business conference. Business casual is appropriate.

lmradlein

This will be my first year going as well. Are there other "no nos"? That would be nice to know a head a time. Do you take a notebook?

chefann

Yes to a notebook. You'll get a tote bag when you check in at the registration desk (conference, not hotel).

Wear comfy shoes. We're typically spread all over McCormick Place, which is huge. There's a LOT of walking to get between workshops, general sessions and meals.

There are already a lot of threads about dress code. Your interpretation of "business casual" will depend a lot on what area of the country you're in, and what industry you're in as well. A lot of people consider cropped pants biz casual, but I would have been sent home from my day job (which was biz casual) if I had shown up for work in them.

A better rule is- do you feel professional and comfortable in your chosen attire? Are you sure that someone won't mistake you for a streetwalker? (Yes, I've seen people at conference who looked like they walked in from the nearest busy streetcorner.) Would you feel comfortable meeting a reporter and telling them that you own your own business - giving off an air of professionalism, not "laundry day"?

raebates

Excellent rules of thumb, Ann.

Chef Endora

Ditto what Ann said.

Congratulations on going to NC your first year with PC. You will love it!

PartiesbyJamie

After my first conference I made myself notes on what to back next time ... #1 - VERY COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! #2 - a sweater for chilly conference rooms #3 nice capri's & top is just fine - you'll want something nice for your dinner but you should be comfortable during the day. The biggest thing was the shoes! I brought all my "cute" dressy sandals and shucked them after day 1, except at dinner.
have fun - it's so awesome!!!

PartiesbyJamie

Whoops ... meant to type "what to pack"

Melissa78

Ann I love your wording! What a great visual you created. Having worked for an organization that held such corporate events, I know exactly what you mean as those same street walkers were at some of our conferences. (I do give them credit for having such confidence in themselves) And you nailed it on the head on what part of the country you come from - amazing how much location makes a difference in what we see as 'the norm' and how we interpret different things. Just my two cents for the evening.

lmradlein

Thank y'all so much. Boy do I ever understand the whole street walker thing! WOW is all I can say for some that walk out of their homes looking the way they do. Sometimes you just want to ask if they own a mirror! LOL
I will be bringing my notedbook and COMFORTABLE SHOES!!!

Melissa78

Leigh - that is my exact comment when I see such appearances - "Do they own a mirror?" but then as I said above, I follow that up with "If so, gosh I admire their confidence." To each their own! And that's what makes the world go round.

raebates

My frequent comment is, "Well, that's an interesting fashion choice."

chefann

I had a counter with me last year (the kind frequently used at sporting events to count attendees as they enter), and I counted the number of fashion disasters that crossed the stage.

DessertDivaFL

raebates

I think you can tell the difference, though, between regional norms and fashion disasters.

I don't wear capris. I don't wear sleeveless anything unless it's covered by a blouse or jacket. Mostly, though, that's because I'm more comfortable with a little more coverage.

chefann

Absolutely! Just like there's a difference in being neat and pressed vs. throwing on something that was just pulled out of the suitcase. And one can look more professional in pressed capris and a blouse than in a wrinkled skirt suit.

The disasters I was referring to above were people wearing things that were waaayyyyy too casual for stage (if you're walking the stage, you're being recognized for one of the top awards or for promoting to Director or above - dress to reflect that), or were completely unflattering to the wearer. People who know they're going to be crossing stage should take the time to find appropriate foundation garments and an outfit that camouflages, not emphasizes, any figure flaws.

DessertDivaFL

chefann

Yeah- that's exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned people looking like streetwalkers. I saw one woman one year in a low-cut, spaghetti-strap, LACE cami as her shirt. And she was a large woman. The straps looked like shoelaces tied around bread dough. *shudder*