Help me pick one conference outfit!

Trying to decide on a conference outfit (academic conference). It needs to be comfortable enough for me to spend the whole day in, then catch a one-stop flight back home (i.e. walking and standing involved).

1. Black blazer and pants with black printed cowl-neck top (seen in pic 2)

3 and 4. Same black suit with gray top with pear-lined neckline

5 and 6. Same black suit with red top

7, 8, 9. Navy suit with navy/red/white printed top. Can I wear a navy suit with black boots?

10. Or does the navy suit look better with these silver oxfords?

11, 12. Black wide pants with navy/red/white top and black jacket.

13 and 14. Gray pinstripe flared pants with black top and jacket

15, 16, 17. Plaid pants with black top and jacket. Not sure if top should be tucked or not. They are very form-fitting pants and the fabric is thin so I always just wore tops untucked.

Please help me pick one!

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7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You can wear a navy suit with black boots for sure. It also looks good with the oxfords. It's hard to tell the difference between the two suits with the lighting, but the cuts look similar. And you look terrific in both. Which feels best/ easiest to wear? From what I can tell in the photos, I think I like the first outfit (with the black print top) the best.

bj1111

Need more context. What’s the field? What’s your position/rank? Are you presenting?

Kathie

My favorite is 12, but that might be a bit formal for some contexts. If the general dress in your field is more casual, then I’d go with 5/6 or 1/2. Both suits look great on you!

K.M.

Suz, I am SO GLAD I can pair the black boots with the navy suit! Yes, they are similar--the pants are both Gigi (J.Crew Factory). The easiest to wear of all of them is the first!!! (Except there's an itchy tag in the pants and I need to remove it ).

bj1111, Yes, I'm presenting. Field: arts and humanities, likely to have a combination of: creative designer types; regular humanities types; some conservative older mostly male colleagues. I bet I'll see everything from bow ties to avant-garde culottes!

Anonymous

Without rereading to figure out which pieces are what colour - I like the wider legged pant /jacket combo with the red print top, and with silver oxfords instead of the black boots . I think it’s photo 12.

Kathie, I think my field will allow for a latitude of formality. My usual conference does; this one, while in my field, is one I've never been too. It might even be a bit more formal than I'm used to. Interesting that the wideleg reads more formal!

lisa p., I like that combo too--that one and the first one are my favorites. The suit in 12 is black, but the top has a print with red/navy/white. I put the silver oxfords on with the skinnies; haven't tried them with the widelegs. Will try and see what it looks like!

Jaime

Honestly they all look good, and given the field it seems you can wear what you want. Therefore I pick 6 .

shevia, glad they all look good--maybe that's why I can't decide, there's no clear "bad one"...

AmyD

Active Member

I really like the outfits in pics 1 and 12 the best. All black suiting with a coordinating graphic top always looks polished and professional to me. The wide-leg pants may be more comfortable for a long day with airline travel.

Greyscale

I love the outfit in #1 (or any of the first three with the black suit). When you said suit, I was afraid it would read too formal - but that looks chic and academic. They're all quite good but you just look so comfortable in your own skin, in the first three outfits. If that makes sense. Of course, that's just a photo, maybe doesn't show which one feels most like you.

Of the three tops, the grey looks most casual. I like the black patterned one best, but sometimes for academic conferences I'm consciously toning it down a notch, so I might choose the grey. But it sounds like your conferences have suits, so you won't be at all overdressed.

Bijou

I agree with Shevia, these all look great. My favourite is #10, I like the silver oxfords, but if the black boots are more comfortable, given you have a long day and will be on your feet, I would wear those.

Molly Mac

#12 and #1 are my favorites. The metallic oxfords are fantastic and add sophistication and polish. The boots are more casual to my eye.

Amy D., yes, I was thinking that for the plane the widelegs will be way more comfortable than the skinnies. I have a late one-stop flight and would definitely appreciate the soft PJ feel of the widelegs, which are made of a stretchy thick comfy jersey (Maybe I'll change at the airport?!?)

Greyscale, definitely in terms of style the first outfit (and its variations with different tops) is the one in which I feel the most confident and at ease. While I love widelegs, for some reason combining them with the jacket made feel like I was back in 2005. But in terms of leg comfort, the widelegs win. (Again, maybe I should change at the airport!)

Bijou and Molly Mac, yes, the silver oxfords have a much more striking vibe than the boots. I adore these oxfords. But yes, the boots are more comfortable. I was also wondering if the oxfords would get too beaten up with travel (my travels will involve flights, shuttles, a bus, a connection...) Those are shoes I want to keep pristine!

(Again... maybe I should change at the airport!!! I am trying to keep my carry-on to a minimum though.)

kkards

love them all....i know, not very helpful....
so i've i had to pick, i'd go with #1 or #12....with a slight edge to #1....because, i'm, and this is just me, always concerned that cross over tops will seperate at the wrong time....

Angie

Fashion Stylist

#10 gets my top vote. KILLER.

If you want a more conservative look, go for #12.

catherine

I would like the plaid pants with the oxfords, but I think all of them are good for an academic conference.

kkards, I know what you mean! This top however is gold--it is sooo well built. I am small-chested and wrap tops usually gape on me. This one fits and flatters. Boden of course. I probably should get another...

Thanks, Angie! I do love 10 very much. Each piece in this outfit is quite special on its own (esp. the Boden wrap top and the J.Crew Factory blazer), and also together. (With the other outfits, there's always one or another little thing that bothers me.) This week I'll wear my silver oxfords to see if they would be comfy enough for a whole day of conferencing and plane travel. Glad to know that 12 also works! It's the most comfortable overall.

catherine, I have a soft spot for these plaid pants. I don't wear them enough (partly because they have a high-waist with itchy elastic band--haven't figured out how to solve it).

Thanks everyone! I spent quite a bit of time yesterday trying things out (then folding them back in), and was having such a hard time deciding. Your input is really helpful!

Stagiaire Fash

I think you answered your own question in your reply to Angie--12 is the most comfortable. Strange to think you don't wear blazers much, because these are all great. I think the top in 9-12 (or thereabouts) might dip a little too low. My favorite is 6, and I like the boots.

Good job road testing the oxfords, K.M. Try wearing them with sheer back or nude knee highs to increase the comfort level.

12 is the safest and surest bet and very attractive too. I do like 1, I think the less contrasting colors subdues the bolder silhouette.

I don't love the plain t shirts for this purpose, They look underdressed and I always assume layers might be revealed. I'm going back to read previous posters to see if I was on the right track.

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