Conference Style Guide For Men
What To Wear To A Conference?
Got a conference to attend? There’s lots to plan, including your outfits! For every aspect of a conference, you want to feel your best – from presentations to networking to dinner. Dressing to impress is a key booster for your confidence and sure to impact your results. For men’s conference outfits that will make you feel your best, men’s office outfit ideas, and dos and don’ts of conference attire, read on…
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What Should Men Wear To A Conference?
Whether you’re going to a big conference or your first ever one, there’s always space to refine your men’s conference wardrobe. Here are our recommendations of what to wear to a conference:
For a professional event such as a conference, sticking to formality is the best route. You want to make a smart, distinguished impression. Men’s formal style is the simplest way to achieve this. However, for some fields and some conferences, you may be able to go for a smart casual approach.
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A man should wear an elevated version of his professional wardrobe for a conference. Consider what you like to wear for work. Are you a suit man? Do you enjoy smart casual ensembles? What casual elements do you incorporate and what formal pieces do you wear? Having a strong idea of what you like to wear to work, what gets you into that professional mindset, is the best starting point for choosing what to wear to a conference.
Whilst having an idea of what you like to wear to work and refining that is an excellent starting point, another early point of consideration is what to do and what not to do when it comes to dressing for a conference…
Dos & Don’ts For Men’s Conference Outfits
The right conference outfit can be easy to find. However, if you want to make the right impression, there are some conference dos and don’ts to keep in mind. No matter whether you’re wearing a full 3-piece men’s suit or just a simple shirt, jacket, and chino combo, this advice is must-follow.
Don’t
Go too casual. No shorts, graphic tees, anything too casual. While you may be able to relax your outfits in the evenings, don’t relax it too much! You don’t want to make a fantastic first impression in a brilliantly delivered presentation in your finest 3-piece suit and then run into the big boss a few hours later in a socks and sandal combo, keep it polished!
Look unkempt. Before a big conference, you should get your hair or beard trimmed. You should also clean and iron your clothes and then hang them before the day you’re wearing them. Keep yourself professional and tidy. Let them focus on what you have to say, not the ketchup stain down the front of your white shirt!
Dress unseasonably. It may be easy to think that, since you want to look good, you need to be always wearing a black woollen three piece. However, this will do the opposite of what you want. Not dressing for the season will make you uncomfortable and being uncomfortable will make you distracted, not likely to perform at the best you know you can do.
Overdress. It may seem contradictory to the advice of sticking to formality. However, overdressing could make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. For a professional event, keep you colour palette and style more subdued and contemporary. You want to be remembered for your work and professionalism, not for wearing a mustard yellow shirt and a brown suit! Keep it formal but simple.
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Do
Wear something that makes you feel confident. Confidence is key for a conference. Your men’s conference outfits should reflect this. There may be several different things you want to achieve out of a conference: putting your name out there, networking, impressing higher ups, making your own voice heard, and so much else. All of this requires confidence. Some of that confidence can come from knowing you look exactly how you want to look and feeling at your very best. Do not neglect your men’s conference outfits!
Always look your best, even outside of meetings. If you’re all staying in the same place and you may run into an important connection or colleague at any point, you need to look your best around the clock. This doesn’t mean you have to always be in your finest 3-piece men’s suit, you simply have to look well put-together even in the evenings, just in case!
Pack items that work for multiple outfits. Overpacking can be a logistical nightmare for several reasons, but it also provides confusion as to what are the best options for you to wear.
Conference Outfits For Men
Now you know what is expected of you in men’s conference styles, alongside what to do and what not to do, you have an idea of what your men’s conference outfits should look like. Here are some SUAVE OWL suggestions for conference outfits for men.
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For formal gentlemen, sticking to men’s suits is a good action plan. Either a 2-piece suit or a 3-piece suit would work for a conference, pair it with a SUAVE OWL formal shirt and brogues. A tie is an optional step. You could make the addition of a jumper for a slightly more scholarly look. You could also wear an overcoat, a practical addition that still looks formal.
Depending on how long the conference is, you may want to utilise your suit pieces for multiple outfits. To keep yourself looking fresh, consider packing a few different coloured formal shirts, a white, a navy, a light blue, a lilac or a pink are all fantastic suggestions for professional wear. You can mix up your look with these shirts, combining them with different ties. You can also take your 3-piece suit with you but alternate between wearing 3-pieces and 2-pieces. Doing this means you can pack just the one suit but have several different outfits. Remember, there’s a lot of different accessories you can incorporate outside of your classic tie to shake things up a bit. A scarf, bowtie, pocket-square, and pocket watch will all go a long way.
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If you work in a more casual setting, there are smart casual outfits that are perfect for professional men’s outfits. A suit jacket, formal shirt, and chino combination with your favourite brogues is an excellent go-to. Suit trousers and a SUAVE OWL polo is another winning combo. You could also try suit trousers, a formal shirt, brogues, and a jumper.
It's important with men's smart casual outfits for an event like this to keep them smart and presentable. Try and have the smart casual balance lean more towards formality than casual.
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For after-hours activities, such as socialising after the day or any dinners you must attend, smart casual dress is best. However, you can afford to include a little more personality at this point. Short-sleeve buttons up, chinos, maybe even some clean and presentable trainers can all be implemented into your evening wardrobe. Let it a little bit looser, shrug off some of the formality by adding more colour to your outfits and wearing less formal outfits. Remember you still are representing yourself though, so stay composed!
More From SUAVE OWL
For more about men’s style and men’s professional style, read more of our blogs! Start with Men's Smart Casual Outfits For Work and What To Wear To The Office - A Style Guide. If you have a big interview on the horizon, you can also read Men's Interview Outfits To Impress: A SUAVE OWL Guide.
For more smart casual men’s style guides, read Mastering The Art of Semi Formal Attire For Men and Smart Casual Men's Outfits For Summer. For more about suit styling, read The Ultimate Guide To Men's Suits and Navigating Men's Formal Wear: A Comprehensive Style Guide.
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