You must present yourself appropriately before entering an academic conference. It’s no longer acceptable to dress whichever you want and yet be regarded seriously in the academy. But what exactly should one wear to a conference? You can make the most of this content to look your best on the big day. What to wear to a tech conference, what to wear to an education conference, or what to wear to a formal academic conference, symposium, or other gathering? I’ve held positions at five distinct research universities and been to a lot of conferences. This article compiles advice from other colleagues as well as my personal experiences to provide a thorough manual for academics who dress sharply.
What to Wear to an Academic Conference
You’ve spent months preparing for your conference. You know what research you’re presenting, and you’re ready to make your case. But what about your outfit?
Academic conferences are an important part of the job market in academia, but they can also be a great way to network with colleagues and build professional relationships. It’s important that you dress appropriately for the event so that you can make the best impression possible on the people who matter most.
What Should I Wear to a Conference?
The dress code at academic conferences is generally more casual than it would be at other professional events. However, some conferences do have specific guidelines that attendees should follow if they want to present their work or participate in a panel discussion. When in doubt, ask someone who works at the conference center or has attended before what people usually wear at their event. You can also check out our tips on how to dress professionally for a conference here!
What to Wear to a Tech Conference
Tech conferences are an opportunity to wear whatever you want, but they’re also an opportunity to make a great impression with your clothing.
How you dress depends on the type of conference you’re attending. If it’s a large, general tech conference, then anything from a suit and tie to jeans and a t-shirt will be fine.
If it’s a small or niche tech conference, then you’ll want to pay attention to what other people are wearing. If everyone is dressed casually, then wear casual clothes. If everyone is dressed up in suits and ties, then do the same.
What to Wear to an Education Conference
Education conferences involve teachers, professors and administrators from different educational institutions talking about their curriculum or educational initiatives. This means that what you wear will depend on what kind of event you’re going to — whether it’s formal or informal — as well as where it’s taking place (if it’s held at another school).
If it’s formal and taking place at another school (such as a university), then business casual would be appropriate attire for both men and women. Men should wear dark suits with matching ties while women should wear suits with matching blouses or dresses
Academic conferences are a great place to learn more about your field, meet new people and network.
There’s no one right way to dress for an academic conference, but there are some rules of thumb:
Dress professionally. You want to make a good impression on potential employers and other attendees. If you’re not sure what the dress code is, ask someone in advance.
Consider the venue. If you’re going to be sitting in a room with people all day long, you may want to wear something that’s more comfortable than if you were going somewhere else afterward.
Bring extra layers. It can get chilly inside some buildings during the winter months, so bring along extra layers like scarves and sweaters just in case it gets too cold for comfort at some point during the day or evening.
There are many types of academic conferences, and each one has its own dress code.
Some conferences are casual and allow you to wear whatever you like. Other conferences require business attire or even formal attire.
If you’re not sure what to wear, ask your supervisor or someone from the conference planning committee what the dress code is for your conference. If you have time before the conference starts, try to shop for an appropriate outfit that fits with the expected attire.
If you’re unsure about the dress code for your academic conference, here are some tips for what to wear:
– Wear comfortable shoes that won’t hurt your feet after hours of walking around a convention center or hotel lobby.
– Bring an umbrella just in case it rains (it always does).
– Wear layers so that if it gets hot during the day (or cold at night), you can take off a layer or two without having to go back to your hotel room first.
You’ve got your conference registration in hand, your hotel reservation is confirmed, and you’ve already jotted down a few ideas for presentations you could give. But what should you wear?
Conferences are a great opportunity to showcase your personal style and express yourself through clothing. But if you want to make a good impression at one, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The first rule of thumb is that you should feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear. This means no uncomfortable shoes or clothes that don’t fit right.
You also want to consider the weather. It might be hot outside, but it can get cold inside large buildings like theaters and convention centers — so consider bringing along an extra layer just in case!
What to Wear to a Tech Conference
If you’re going to a tech conference, you want to be dressed in a way that shows you’re serious about your work. But it can be difficult to know what to wear when you’re not exactly sure what you’ll encounter at the event.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on the event and on your own personal style. But there are some general guidelines for dressing for conferences that might help you find an outfit that works for you:
For women, avoid anything too revealing or too tight. You don’t want people focusing on what you’re wearing instead of what you’re saying!
For men, keep things professional and conservative — think button-down shirts, slacks, and nice shoes (no sneakers).
For a tech conference, you’ll want to dress in a way that’s professional but not stuffy. A blazer is a great option. It’s professional enough to show that you’re serious about the work, but it also gives you some freedom to move around and be comfortable. You can also add some flair with your shoes or accessories.
For an education conference or a professional conference, you’ll want to look more formal than for a tech conference. Try wearing a suit or at least a dress shirt and tie instead of your typical jeans and t-shirt.
It’s pretty common to see people wearing jeans and a t-shirt at a tech conference. This is probably because most of the people attending are developers, and most developers spend their days in jeans and t-shirts.
However, if you’re going to an education technology conference, or any other kind of professional conference for that matter, then it’s important to dress appropriately. You want to look like you belong there — not like you just rolled out of bed and threw on whatever was closest.
If you’re attending a professional conference, then you need to wear business casual clothes. That means no jeans (unless they’re designer jeans) or flip-flops — but also no suit jackets or ties either! You can wear nice pants (khakis or dress pants) with a button-up dress shirt or polo shirt underneath a blazer or sweater vest if it’s cold outside.
For women: If you’re going to an education technology conference, don’t wear anything too revealing or too tight-fitting — especially if the event is being held at night! You don’t want people seeing more than they meant to when they look at your outfit!
Conferences are great places to network and meet new people, but what you wear can really make or break your experience.
Some conferences are more formal than others, but it’s generally a good idea to dress up a little bit. If you’re not sure what type of clothing to wear, here’s a quick guide:
Business casual. Business casual is the most common choice for conferences, so if you’re not sure what to wear, this option is a safe bet. It means dressing in something that’s professional-looking but not overly formal or stuffy. A nice pair of khakis or nice pants with a blazer and a button-down shirt should suffice for most businesses. If you want to go for something more casual, try jeans with a button-down shirt or even just a polo shirt. You can also wear nice slacks with an open collar shirt if you want something slightly dressier than jeans.
Dress up! Many big companies tend toward business formal when they host events like these — think suits and ties or dresses for women — so if there’s any indication that this is the case at your event (e.g., mentions in your invitation or on social media), then go ahead and dress up accordingly!
This is a question that I get asked all the time.
For me, it’s not just about what to wear, but also what not to wear.
I’ll start with the basics and then move on to more advanced topics.
The most important thing to remember when you’re dressing for any type of event is that you want to look professional and well put together. That doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit or a dress (although they can be appropriate), but it does mean that you should strive for clean lines and classic styling.
The key here is simplicity; don’t try too hard! Think about what colors look good on you and how they go together, then make sure everything matches — from your shoes up through your earrings.
If you’ve never been to an event like this before, ask someone who has been before what they wore. If possible, bring them with you so they can help pick out clothes for you at the store!
What to Wear to a Scientific Conference
Presenting new work, learning about new ideas, and making important collaborations are exciting parts of scientific conferences.
While academics carefully plan their talk slides, posters, and travel itineraries, little thought and preparation go into what to wear for a scientific conference.
What one wears at conferences has an impact beyond personal comfort. You can make a strong impression as a confident and ambitious professional through your clothes and improve engagement with the scientific community.
In some instances, conference organizers or their parent scientific organizations offer valuable guidelines to the attendees on what to wear to their events. [1,2]
However, it is not uncommon for researchers, especially junior undergraduate and graduate trainees, to resort to Google for ideas or crowdsource information through social media channels about what to wear at scientific conferences.
Wearing and witnessing a range of outfit styles in the conferences I attended over the years and from discussions with my colleagues, I curated general guidelines and a wardrobe checklist for scientists attending conferences.
Business-casual is the Way: For conference presenters, speakers, first-time attendees, and anyone in doubt, business-casual is a safe, acceptable style. A simple blazer paired with trousers, and a blouse or shirt is a common dress code in most academic events. No matter what you pair it with, make blazers the key item.
Comfort over Style: Avoid choosing anything experimental or attires that do not feel comfortable to you. When in doubt, always choose comfort, provided they are not pajamas.
Make it Personal: Don’t disregard your style. For instance, many researchers express their scientific interests through science-themed clothes featuring graphs, microscopy images, or popular science photos. Some prefer colorful accessories, such as bowties, socks, and glasses. Dress up to flaunt your style.
Shoes Matter: Comfortable shoes are a must as there is a lot of standing and walking involved in scientific conferences. Make sure your shoes are broken in, fit properly, and match your business-casual outfit.
Avoid Extremes: Because academic conferences have a more relaxed dress code, it is unsurprising to see different outfit styles. Regardless of the crowd around you, avoid extreme looks, ranging from sweatpants to tuxedos. Skip overly fashionable trends that can make you the odd one out.
Check the Weather: A summer conference in Greece might not need much extra clothing, but a winter conference at a ski resort requires additional planning. Make sure to check local weather and bring along essential items, such as a winter jacket or an umbrella.
Additional Events: Many conferences include special events like dinners, excursions, and dance parties that may require special outfits. Read the event calendar carefully for special events and suggested dress code.
Additional Tips for Men
Avoid wearing trainers (running shoes) with your business casual outfit.
Make sure to wear a belt.
Additional Tips for Women
Wear sheer, nude tights with dresses and skirts to make yourself more comfortable in a crowded setting.
Avoid wearing heels the day you have a poster presentation where you must stand for hours.
Bring a hair straightener. Nothing is worse than frizzy hair on your presentation day.
Additional Tips for Non-binary or Genderqueer Individuals
While many resources and discussions on clothing choices are available to men and women, they often leave out individuals whose identities are outside the gender binary. These tips can help nonbinary researchers to choose dress codes that are suitable for academic conferences in addition to affirming their identity.
Choose a professional outfit that aligns with your gender expression. For example, shirts and pants in loose-fitting, flowing fabrics with neutral colors and/or prints of your choice are good options. [3]
Use funky accessories such as bowtie or bold jewelry to express who you are.
Discuss the dress code with conference organizers in advance. Develop your own gender-affirming, inclusive dress code with the help of your scientific community.
