Smart casual outfit with indoor slippers!

Sihaya

Yikes - I'm presenting at a conference tomorrow. The audience is engineering students and some professionals. Dress code is casual to smart casual. I had planned to wear a long jacket with long shorts and boots (one of the first outfits I'd posted on this forum) and we feeling pretty thrilled about it.

We just got email from the organizers saying that the retreat facility does not allow outside shoes in. Which means we should plan to bring and wear our slippers for the duration of the conference. I have never faced this situation. Anyone have any ideas on what to wear and creative ways to look decent in my house slippers?

16 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Steph

Veteran

How strange. I don't even own indoor slippers--I would think others would be in the same boat.

Is the issue just that they don't want shoes that have been outside to be inside, because they could be dirty? Or is it that they want shoes that will be quiet and won't make any noise (as heels might do)? If you had the time and funds, I think I might go out and buy an inexpensive pair of new flats, and take them, new, to the conference. If they haven't been worn outside before and are flats, it seems like they might be acceptable.

If that's not possible, I guess you have no choice and have to wear your slippers? Maybe they wouldn't look as bad if you wore long pants? I guess everyone else will be wearing slippers too, so at least everyone will look silly together.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wow, Sihaya. That's quite unprofessional of the organization, unless I’m missing major pieces to the puzzle. I am trying to keep my judgments aside, even though I’m not doing a very good job of it right now :0(

But be it as it may, I would not worry about it all. You can’t make a smart casual outfit look fabulous with house slippers – it just is what it is. Casual is a little easier on the eye. It’s like me going to houses and I’m wearing what I’m wearing but you have to take your shoes off at the door. It is what it is. Do not dress down. You are giving the presentation and should wear what makes you feel authoritative, powerful and fabulous – just got to add slippers to the outfit when indoors.

16 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Wow, that's pretty .... interesting. Maybe you can get some of those slippers that look like moccasins. I'd be tempted to go bare foot

16 years ago

Anonymous

It seems like they would give everyone a cheap pair of slippers to put on at the door, doesn't it?
I think you might be better off wearing a skirt so that you don't have your pants hem dragging on the floor.

16 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

What a conundrum!

I'd be tempted to build my entire outfit around ballet flats - and then either brand new ballet flats or slippers that look like ballet flats. Hmm...I suppose you could always get those heeled 'slippers' with the silly feathers on them like they used to wear....

*kidding*

16 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Strangely it was a recurring knightmare of mine when I was young that I arrived at school to find I was still wearing my slippers and everyone was laughing!

I would be tempted to carry a large tote big enough to carry your heels and slip into something of this nature later
http://www.office.co.uk/womens.....8/18111/1/

16 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Thanks everyone. I am really tempted to go barefoot except that the thought of using a public restroom barefoot makes my toes curl up! So I think I'll wear inside slippers (ick) and then maybe kick them off when presenting and just do it barefoot. I just went and got a pedicure. How strange. I guess the only comfort is that everyone else will probably look just as ridiculous.

Our house is a shoes off house and I feel comfortable dressing up at home and being bare foot. So I'm hoping that will make me feel the most in my skin when presenting.

16 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Sarah - I think they don't want outside shoes for a couple of reasons: a) to keep out the dirt and b) if they have fancy floors and don't want certain shoes to tear the floors up. On boats, we ask that people wear non marking soles, so that might be another reason - though this is not a boat. I'm going to be so curious about what this place is like when I'm there.

16 years ago

NCYogini4

Active Member

That's interesting. I was just drooling over some adorable slippers on the Boden website yesterday... they're almost ballet flat like. I would love an excuse to buy them.... maybe this is an excuse for you to find a pair of cutie-patootie slippers!

16 years ago

Ellen

Active Member

When I have heard 'outside shoes', I have always brought a clean pair of shoes along and changed into those, as has everyone else at the events. You may want a presentable pair of clean flats in your bag in case that is what they mean.

If you go with a ballet slipper sort of shoe it will blend in whether everyone is in slippers or simply in alternate shoes. That will save you from being the only one barefoot in case everyone else assumes they just want you to change your shoes.

16 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I tried on these shoes at Target today and immediately thought of you:
http://www.target.com/Mossimo-.....rchSize=30

I am with Steph and Ellen on this one. I would buy an inexpensive, soft-looking pair of ballet flats like the ones above and bring them along with me in my purse.

16 years ago

anne

Veteran

Gosh this reminds of when I taught in Japan. I have many pics of me dressed up for kindy graduations smartly in my brown suit and make -up - with the white canvas slip ons shoes that were my "inside shoes".

I love the suggestions above. I often thought that if I went back to Japan I would invest in some smarter inside shoes

16 years ago

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