Continuing my metaphor from before, I’m meeting the Science Relatives. Major European Conference starts next Saturday in the Emerald Isle. It’s the biggest meeting in my field. So, obviously, the most important issue at hand is what do I wear? I’ve only been to one other conference and it was of the isolated Northeastern variety that are held during the summer (which Labmate and I nicknamed Summer Camp for Nerds). That was a fairly casual affair (I mean, drinking with a Nobel Laureate and talking smack with Respected and Famous Scientist during the softball game is about as casual as it gets.). I get the impression that this one might not be at that level of (in)formality. So, I’m calling on you, oh-all-knowing readers, what does one wear to a conference?
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- December 2016
- January 2014
- August 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- August 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- January 2012
- August 2011
- April 2011
- January 2011
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
Categories
- Academic Interactions
- Awards
- Blogging Fun
- Blogrolling
- books
- Carnival of GRADual Progress
- Coffee and EtBr
- Family
- Friends
- Grad School
- InaDWriMo
- LDR
- Life
- Meme
- No Eating Out Challenge
- rambling
- Random
- Rant
- scientiae
- scientiae-carnival
- Stupidity
- The South
- Trying my hand at teaching
- Uncategorized
- Unsolicited Advice
- whining
- work habits
Meta
In my field, we often wear suits if presenting and pants/skirts and tops if we’re just attending sessions. I’d personally aim to look nice and professional, but there’s no need to overdo it with suits and heels (unless that’s quite comfortable for you – in that case, suit it up.) 🙂 Our societies generally have a few folks who wear jeans or shorts, but it’s noticeable. I’d avoid it to keep your impression professional and put-together. But that’s just my opinion – feel free to disregard!
I’m so interested in seeing what people where. In my old field everything was very casual. Flips flops and jeans were the norm for attendees, presentors whore anything from suits – shorts with flannel shirts. I think you can never go wrong by looking professional.
I have had the same experiences as post-doc. People (including myself) typically wear suits to present. Then I will wear some combinations of nice slacks/pencil skirt + sweater set/collared blouse.
Beware of heels if you think you might be walking long distances. I was once in a convention center where the circumference of the building was ~1 mile. I wore heels because I was staying right next to the building. The walk from the hotel was nothing compared to the hikes in between sessions, and my feet paid dearly.
I too avoid heels because my feet would hurt from all the walking, and since there is usually <10% women I also don't wear skirts in fear of sticking out way too much. So, slacks and collared shirts for more formal settings, and non-torn jeans with nicer shirts (no t-shirts) for less formal ones. If I don't know which way the conference will be, I just bring both and err on the formal side for the first day.
I think you should ask someone who has been to this particular conference, or listen to advice from blogger you think are in your field.
I’m certain we’re not in the same field. I wear jeans at conferences. I might wear slacks on the day I present, especially if it’s a talk. I wear my nicest tops and more makeup and jewelry than usual, but I’m still pretty casual. I would look funny if I wore a suit, and I would worry I wouldn’t be taken seriously if I wore heels. I go to three different major meetings (not all of them every year), and they cover a gradient of formalness, but still not so fancy as to require a suit. I betcha the attire has become more casual as more women have joined the field.
No suits in my field either where jeans are the norm. However, if unsure it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. ‘Business casual’ always seems pretty safe. Most of all, you should be as comfortable as possible!
Please let us know what you decide!
In my field suits would stand out and not in a good way – people wearing suits (except for men in 20-year-old saggy suits) are usually seen as ‘up to something’ or trying to be political. I reckon you can’t go wrong with well-groomed business casual – things like clean, neat hair, a little makeup and clean smart non-trainer low-heeled or flat shoes with dress slacks or a neat skirt (and like your other commentators I tend to only wear a skirt at a conference with a reasonable percentage of women – and not just at student level either!) and a well-pressed shirt and blazer or sweaterset if it’s likely to be cold, discrete and quality-looking jewellary – will carry you through just about ANY level of formality without embarrassment – especially as you’re a grad student. The most important thing is to be COMFORTABLE as you want to be able to project enthusiasm and interest all day, and that’s hard when your feet hurt, your pants are cutting in and you feel bundled up and miserable!
If you can’t find someone to ask who you trust as an observer of clothes (which usually cuts down the numbers of prospects), I’d try and make sure you pack clothes to cover all bases after your reconnaisance on day one – so take a pair of smart jeans that will dress down your nice shirts if it turns out to be less dressy, and if you have such a thing in your wardrobe (WELL worth searching out) take a little jacket (can be decent quality wool, even knit) which matches your smartest wear-all-day-able dress slacks or skirt – the suit jacket if you;re that kind of person.
I find that I wear suits so rarely, and that skirt length and cut and jacket cut (especially collars) change so much for women’s wear that even the most carefully chosen ‘classic’ starts to look dated within a year or two (and I’m busty so am uncomfortable in nice suit jackets – name tags are bad enough for causing/allowing/encouraging staring!). My best outfit is a mid calf length heavy linen chocolate brown skirt with godets (those narrow stitched panels that make a skirt fit around the hips and flare below the knee) and a fancy crocheted cardigan lined with some silky fabric so that it hangs really well in the same colour. I want it to look business like, I wear a crisply ironed white or daintily patterned tailored shirt with it and low-heeled courtshoes. Less formal – a nice knit top with a smart neckline detail or a little embroidery. Casual – jacket with jeans and knit top, or skirt with a softly cut shirt (I like ‘peasant shirts’ with full sleeves and neck embroidery myself) or t-shirt and a casual knit jacket in case of air conditioning. for travelling light – travel in jeans, t-shirt, casual jacket, walking shoes, pack skirt, smart jacket, smart shirt, casual shirt, one good condition tee with a nice neck or unusual decoration, mid or low heel court shoes and a pair of light sandals that match everything…
Thanks everyone for your help. Unfortunately, no one I know has ever been to this conference (including Advisor). So, I think I’m going to err on the side of being more formal and go for business casual. I think I’m going to stick with pants, though. I don’t know the percentage of females and it’s supposed to be cold in Emerald Isle this time of year (well, cold for me and reasonable for everyone else).
I’m gong to try to travel light, but I think it’s going to be a stretch. The conference is a week long and I’m staying an extra week for vacation-type purposes.
Most of the conferences I’ve been to are a mix of suits (presenters, reps and clinicians) and jeans (scientists) with not much in the middle…
It’s so interesting how this varies. Suits were rather rare in the conferences I’ve been to so far. Jeans, casual pants, shirts and T-shirts are most frequently worn items. I haven’t even paid attention to heels (what does that say about me?) except that I remember one woman from a company who came in heels and a short skirt, thus looking quite distinct from the rest of us geeks. As others said, pick something comfortable and find colleagues who have been at this conference and can tell you about the usual range of clothes. Also: watch out if they have video with zoom (though I really hope that this was a rare exception).
I’ve never been to a conference where anyone wore suits. In my field, even some of the big-name PIs show up in T-shirts and shorts! If neither you nor your PI knows anyone who’s been to this conference, my suggestion would be to pack some casual clothes and some nicer ones. This way you can decide what to wear when you get there and see what everyone else is wearing.
CAE: Hmm… to look like presenter or a scientist? I think I’m going to try for the middle. (But may or may not make it)
Amelie: Holy crap! That’s just uncalled for! I can’t believe that being “gay” is a good excuse! Wow. (And I’m making sure that everything I have is no where near low-cut).
Mad Hatter: I’m definitely leaning towards more casual since it’ll make packing easier.