WTW to writers conference take 1

I would love some feedback on some possible outfits I tried on this morning for a writers' conference I am attending later this week. Nothing is really styled and please forgive my bedhead. 1-3 are more casual possibilities:
1 - black jeans and a knit wrap top (ugh, doesn't look good in the midsection when I look at the photo)
2 - knit top and printed sweater with black cords
3 - striped blazer with knit top and jeans, this is possibly too casual but the jacket might save it, not sure that these necklines work together
Dressier options:
4 - ruffled vest thing over a top and skirt, again would wear tights - could wear the top half of this outfit with pants, maybe
5- teal ponte skirt with tipped blazer - I've been looking and looking for a white or cream top to go under this blazer and the only possibility I've found is this sleeveless cream stretch lace one from the thrift store
6- red sweater and red and black tweedy skirt
7- teal wrap sweater over a knit dress, would wear this with black tights; could wear the sweater with something else but I don't have a great top with which to layer it

I have no idea the formality of the conference - I am aiming for professional yet approachable, which is why I haven't done much with jeans. I need 4 days of outfits - 2 can probably be slightly less formal since they're shorter days, One day, perhaps two, I will be meeting with agents and editors to pitch my projects.

Ugh, looking back at the pictures the only one that seems decent is the red sweater outfit. Help me, YLF!

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12 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

I really like 5 and 6. They read professional and unfussy to my eye. The cream shell looks great. I think the first 3 read too casual for an event where you are pitching yourself.
Just my 2 cents--of course, I haven't worked in 10 years so take it with a grain of salt.

Tanya

I am with Kellygirl, 5 and 6 are the best, followed by 7. 1 could also be made dressier by addition of a blazer, maybe the one from 5?

shedev

I like 2 and 5.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Thanks. Sounds like 5 and 6 are decent choices for the two more formal days, anyway. I am apprehensive about a blazer, pencil skirt and heels reading too corporate for San Francisco/writers, but I might be overly paranoid about that.

Maybe I'll try the sweater from 7 with pants and some top and see how that looks.

Do you have slacks? Perhaps swapping out the corduroy bottoms in 2 would work for a more casual day. Does the top in 2 match the skirt in 5? Perhaps swap out the cords for that pencil? The cardigan would make it look less dressy.

moira

How would that jacket in #2 look with the skirt and top in #5?
I think with a some silver accents at the neck or wrist it might look nice.

Suz

What's the conference, Laura? Do you know anybody who's been to it? Most of the conferences I've been to are incredibly casual (even the ones where you pitch) but they were in the summer, which might be different.

nancylee

Laura, I agree with everyone else that 5 and 6 look the most traditionally professional. That said, your worries about looking too "corporate" for a writers' conference are valid. I've been to many writers' conferences/workshops and casual is the name of the game. In fact--at least at the events I've attended--there is almost an attitude against looking too put together. There is nothing wrong with wearing a skirt or dress (I've worn both to writers' conferences), but I'd leave the pumps at home in favor of some cool boots.

Do you have a schedule of activities for the event? Will you be attending readings? Workshops? Hanging out and socializing, or attending more formal events?

Suz, glad you weighed in! (we posted at the same time)

You've just confirmed my bias (es?), Suz and Nancylee. The previous "real" writers conference I've been to was in the midwest in July, so it was definitely casual because it was about 95 degrees out. Although there weren't a whole lot of people super-casual - there seemed to be a trend toward things that were dressier or at least different than jeans. It's that whole "pulled together, intriguingly arty but not too weird," balance I am having trouble striking. I tend to dress either quite casual or dressy in a very classic, dare I say boring, way.

Maybe the solution is either a skirt or a jacket, but not together. The problem is that I don't really have anything other than heels or ballet flats to wear with my skirts. (Is it too late to go shopping?)

The weather's been relatively warm here but in the city it could get frigid at any time. Of course, indoors it could be freezing or super-hot with all the people, who knows. It's at a hotel downtown.

It's the San Francisco Writers Conference, btw, in case anyone has been or wants to check out their website. There are a lot of seminars and a few keynote talks, along with pitch sessions, etc., that sort of thing. I have not been to this conference myself yet, or anyone I know personally.

/rambling

rachylou

Oh gosh, SF! You can wear anything here, lol. The website says business casual tho. I like pics #4 & 6. #5 is quite alright also. For four days, I don't think you need to bring much, couple of tops and bottoms to mix and match. But definitely bring sweater and coat. A hat isn't a bad idea either. The wind hurts my ears, personally...

Beth Ann

6 is my favorite --- It's a pencil skirt, but the tweed and the sweater keep it lowkey.

What about the top from 1 with the cardi from 2 and the skirt from 5? Would the cream shell blend with the cardi?

Do you have any boots? I love wearing boots with my pencil skirts.

Spiffy

Active Member

2 and 6 are my favorites.

Rachylou, thankfully I'll be commuting so in theory I can adjust my plans after the first day based on what I see. But it's a long four days especially with all the commuting so I'd really like to have some kind of a plan ahead of time. In my experience San Francisco is dressier than out in the 'burbs where I am, but in a very particular sort of way - usually more monochromatic and artsy, if that makes any sort of sense - dressier but less matchy matchy.

OK, so no one hates 6, so that one's good to go, and I think temperature-wise it'll be ok. I think I'll experiment with the skirt from 5 with less formal tops, like a sweater of some sort or a knit top.

I was so stressed out over this that I stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores on the way home this evening and bought a coat, 3 blazers and a skirt. Ha! Was hoping for a woven top to work for the conference, but I think one of the blazers with a knit top will be perfect for the first day with slacks.

Does anyone sometimes want to shoot whoever came up with the phrase "business casual"? I'm not sure it means /anything/ anymore.

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