Help me dress for a conference!

I'm not presenting - just attending, but it is a biggy in my career - THE behavior analysis meeting they do yearly.

I wanted to go forever. My colleague is presenting, so I decided to finally do it.

It is in Denver during Memorial Day weekend. My hotel is 4 miles away - all the surrounding hotels are booked for this thing.

How should I dress? Usually I wear professional button down tops and slacks, but I have never been to a weekend conference like this, and I usually go to more conferences during the winter time (for some reason)

I also am not sure if I'll be going out to dinner - I think they have a dinner for participants one night, and an awards ceremony, things like that...

Could I wear nice sleeveless blouses? I have tons of those for work during the summer. I also wear a lot of sleeveless dresses during the summer... but I'm not sure what the weather will be like in Denver - it will still be spring, really.

Anyway - any input will be helpful - I can't go out and buy much stuff right now - I do need a new pair of shoes, and maybe one outfit if it is affordable (with my mother's day money)

Can I hit up NY & Co for things that would be appropriate for this?

Message edited 4/16/2011 10:52:06 AM.

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

Def NY & Co...

I just got back from a conference and this is what I wore:

Day 1: Black pants, silk tank & cardigan, in the evening same pants and a little dressy top for dinner

Day 2: Suit all day (but I presented this day)

Day 3: Gray pants, purplish/fuschia sweater tank/cardigan set

I wore the same black shoes with a little heel the whole time

HTH!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

as for shoe, a peep toe would really be great with any pants. If you're thinking of black pants, I would do patent leather peep toe, whatever heel your comfy with. It will dress it up, but without going overboard. And will be appropriate for a dinner too.

I think sleeveless tops would be fine, but I'd pair them with a cardi or blazer for the conference, sometimes its gets chilly in those kind of places. I always freeze my butt off at conferences. And I think you can just ditch the cardi/blazer for dinner and wear the same top with an added accessory, like big earnings/bracelet, just something for sparkle, and a smaller dressier bag.

I assume you're going to be either given a bag at the conference for all the handouts to collect or collecting them yourself. Probably wear a bag that can fit papers and stuff for the conference.

I like to pack light, so I'm thinking of same clothes doing multiple duty.

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

Thanks - I have been to and presented at a million conferences locally, but this is my first one this far away! I wanted to pack light as well - thnaks for the suggestions - and yes, I was thinking how freezing those hotels can get!!!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

As someone that does this for a living all I can say is make sure you have a sweater or jacket with you because the meeting rooms get cold!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

If this is the ABA conference, I went to it a few times. Work professional is fine for it. You dont have to go crazy! I didnt buy anything special for it.

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

Yes... ABA conference... I was never able to go... I don't have the guts to present there yet... Someday!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

I definitely think you would be fine with slacks and a nice shirt. The night everyone goes out, you can just dress up your day clothes :) If you were presenting I would say a suit. Otherwise, you are just going to be sitting and listening and networking. Good luck. I know I went to Toronto and I can't remember where else I went to and had a great time! My best friend goes every year!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

I just finished a local two day conference where I was a presenter.
1st day was just visiting the exhibit hall and then attending a cocktail party.
I wore a navy pants suit with a multi colored silk top belted with a nude patent leather skinny belt & nude patent peep toe pumps.

2nd day I was presenting for 7 hours, I wore a black pants suit with a black/white/grey silk top & black heeled boots-they are my most comfortable & I was on my feet ALL DAY.

My field is mostly men & they are truly piggies so I always try to look as "business" as possible.

Sounds like a great trip for you! Have fun!

Re: Help me dress for a conference!

I went to a confence in Denver last year & there was the same problem with the hotels. We ended up downtown, but may people stayed inthe metro park area.

Denver seem like it is too small to hold these types of events.

Anyway, it was cold & rainy in early May, so Memorial Day weekend is probably too cold for sleeveless. If you need to buy anything, I'd get a cardigan or blazer to wear with something you already have. Just wear comfortable shoes. I was an exhbitor at a conference for recently & we were the only ones in heels.

Also at awards receptions & things, people usually wear the same things they wore during the day--at least at the confence I go to, wihch is made up fo education profesors & researchers.

Message edited 4/18/2011 10:55:28 AM.