Conference Week: The Big Day (A Guide)

I only have one major guideline for what to wear on the day of your paper presentation.  Wear something that makes you feel confident.

My Look:  Dress by Lesley Evers.  Shoes by Nine West.  Bracelet is vintage.  Earrings are gift.  Watch by JCrew.

A presentation at an academic conference is not an interview.  It is not a job talk.  At its heart, it is a performance - a "presentation" in the truest sense of the word.  You will be standing in front of a group of people, reading a paper, hoping to inspire them to stay awake (and perhaps to publish your ideas).  Therefore, I firmly believe that the major component of a successful paper presentation outfit is confidence, and that the elements of that outfit are therefore going to be different for everyone.

A quick story:  the summer before I began graduate school, I spent a month in Sligo, Ireland attending the Yeats Summer School.  Some of the most famous scholars in Irish literature offer lectures and host seminars, and it's considered a very big honor for a young scholar to be invited to give a lecture.  One morning, the token young scholar of the summer was scheduled to present.  She was a young, freshly-minted professor, and she must have been terrified - walking to the podium in front of scholastic giants like Helen Vendler and Seamus Heaney.  However, she walked up the stairs and crossed that stage wearing the most fantastic, gorgeous, breathtaking pair of teal pumps that I had ever seen.  Under her navy dress and grey blazer, her shoes showed us her personality.  I was utterly inspired.

Sure, there are some basic guidelines.  What I'm not going to do is talk about suits (although an "almost-suit" would certainly work, or a true suit if you're in a very formal academic atmosphere).  And because I am a traditionalist at heart, I'm also using skirts for all of these outfits instead of pants.  But, instead of giving rules, I'm just going to throw out some "do" and "don't" ideas, along with some outfit  inspirations based on my favorite presentation foundations - the pencil skirt, the jersey dress, the cardigan, and, of course, the shirtdress.

Do

• Wear amazing shoes.  You're going to be standing up - make them count, but make them comfortable.
• Wear a jacket or cardigan.  Something that buttons, instead of just a pullover sweater.  No matter how nice that cashmere v-neck is, you should be mimicking the shape of a jacket, both for the sake of formality and shape.
• If you aren't wearing a jacket (or cardigan), wear a collar.  So, a shirtdress works wonderfully, if it's a classic shape.
• Dress naturally.  If you never wear skirts, you'll probably feel awkward giving a paper in a pencil skirt.  If you hate blazers, find a draped jacket or elegant cardigan.  You should feel like yourself - like the best, smartest, most confident version of yourself.
• Think about sitting and standing and walking.  You might be forced to sit at an open table in front of your audience prior to giving your paper.  If your pencil skirt rides up, or your wrap dress gapes open, wear something else.  Flashing elder scholars is generally frowned upon.
• Wear color.  I'm so tired of watching a procession of gray and black and navy during conferences.  Wear color, but do it tastefully and deliberately - that could mean a pop of color in a scarf, or classic shapes worn in bright colors.  I know the outfit I'm wearing could be a lot of color for some people, with colors in both the dress and shoes - it would have looked great with nude pumps, too, if you're color-shy.
• Be memorable.  I don't know how many times I overheard someone say "the girl in the green dress" on the day of my paper, directing others to speak to me following my presentation.  Make your audience remember you, so they can come up to you even after the panel to ask you questions.  

Don't

• Don't wear jeans.  Yes, I'm pretty sure this is a double standard, as I see men present papers in jeans (with a collared shirt and jacket) all the time.  But you don't want to do that.  Just don't.
• Don't wear heels if you aren't able to walk easily in them.  There's nothing worse than watching a girl who obviously isn't used to walking in pumps clomp across the stage to the podium.  Be conscious of your stride, and wear shoes that help you to walk naturally.
• Don't overdo the makeup.  Your presentation is probably not the time to try out a smokey eye or red lipstick.  (If you're one of those amazing women who can make red lips look perfectly effortless, then go for it.  But watch your teeth!)
• Don't show cleavage or too much thigh.  Wear a camisole or tights if needed.  But don't wear tan pantyhose, or you'll look like your mother.
• Don't wear distracting jewelry.  I know many people find clattering bangle bracelets annoying during a presentation, or overly long earrings.  Be conscious of how your jewelry will move with you.
• Don't wear ill-fitting clothing.  You can tell when people only pull out the blazer once a year, and it has suddenly gotten too big or too tight.  Make sure everything fits wonderfully before you pack it in your suitcase, and invest in shapewear or tailoring as needed.

Look 1:  The Shirtdress
It serves me well every time I wear it.  It's a classic, structured shape in a bright but sophisticated color.  I don't have to wear a jacket with it to look polished, which means I don't get too hot during my presentation.  It looks great with heels or flats.  I have worn some type of shirtdress for many of my most recent presentations in the past few years, and it's the perfect option for me.  I particularly love the green dress with orange heels - I didn't even realize I looked like the Irish flag (I was giving a paper on Irish lit) until someone pointed it out.

Look 2:  The Pencil Skirt

Conference Presentation (Pencil Skirt) by BiblioMOMia featuring v neck tops

There is no better separate for professional attire than the pencil skirt!  I'm especially fond of the draped versions that are out this spring, as they offer just a bit more freedom than a traditional straight skirt.  With an elegant short jacket and fantastic grey pumps, this outfit is definitely the most formal of all of my options - perfect for something like MLA.  However, I like the hidden pops of color in the tee and the pin, and the pin is just subversive enough to move the look from stuffy to stylish.

Look 3:  The Cardigan

Conference Presentation (Cardigan) by BiblioMOMia featuring a sheer tank

Okay, so I cheated a bit - this cardigan looks a lot like a jacket.  However, I love the formal shape in the unexpected knit, especially combined with the skirt's traditional shape in an unexpected color.  I'd tuck a coral tank into the skirt, letting just the neckline peek above the sweater.  Since the skirt and sweater have a good deal of color and pattern, keep the shoes and jewelry simple and classic - try nude pumps and some heirloom gold jewelry.  Since this look is bright and a bit less formal, I'd probably wear it to present at a graduate student conference.

Look 4: Jersey Dress

Conference Presentation (Jersey Dress) by BiblioMOMia featuring crystal jewelry

I adore jersey dresses for travel - they pack into a tiny bundle, then look perfect after a quick hang in the shower (or Downy Wrinkle Releaser).  Conferences are no exception to my love affair with these dresses, especially when I'm presenting internationally and need to pack light.  I love the cowl neckline of this one, which is interesting but still modest.  I think it would look wonderful with a draped jacket and a belt, along with some detailed shoes in a neutral hue.  You don't want a necklace here, which would interfere with the neckline, so think about some sparkly earrings or a bracelet instead.  The best part of this look? - when you take off the jacket and add a bold lipcolor, you're ready for the conference banquet.

Even within these looks, there are about a million things you could change, depending on the type of conference and the degree of formality.  Switch the cotton tee for a silk shell.  Try a dark pencil skirt instead of a bright colored one.  Wear high-waisted trousers instead of a skirt.  Choose a traditional blazer or cardigan.  Change into turquoise flats instead of grey heels.  Reconsider your jewelry.  Add a scarf.  However, I think these outfits are a good place to start - especially for ideas on how to look just a bit different from "The Suits."

What's your favorite outfit to wear to a conference?  For those of you in fields other than literature - or other than academia! - what are your conference attire guidelines?