I just got back from 6 DAYS of conferencing--definitely my longest conference to date. So, if you’re in need of business packing that can last you all week, here’s my packing list!

What I packed:

-2 blazers (tan, black)

-2 dresses (black, grey)

-2 shirts (black, plaid)

-Dress pants, pencil skirt

-Flats

-Heeled boots

-For layering: tights, gloves/hat/scarf, jacket

-For relaxing: leggings, oversized sweater (can be flipped to look like a more professional cardigan), sneakers (I actually wish I had packed a few more relaxed items--even if I was in the hotel for only a couple hours, there was no way I was staying in a pencil skirt so I used my leggings more than anticipated)

As you can see, I stuck to warm neutrals, black, and pops of red. Sticking to a color palette means that everything goes together and can be worn twice. 

Have a plan: I know that taking flatlays is a blogger level of extra, but I really recommend planning out outfits ahead of time. Knowing what I was pairing with what every day took one thing off my mind while I was job marketing and giving talks. 

Test out comfy items ahead of time: My conference MVP this time was absolutely my Frye “Regina” flats. It has taken me YEARS to find comfortable pointed toe flats and I finally did this summer. I wish I had never wasted my money before on conference items that “might” work--if it only feels so-so in the store, there’s no way it’s going to make it to hour 12 on your feet!

Also, LAYERS. So necessary for winter conferences. 

I also had a couple ~~guest bloggers~~, aka my conference buddies who I followed around and snapped pics of to show some different perspectives on conference dressing. Here’s what they had to say:

Mackensie: My blazer is Madewell and my mint pants are Kut from Kloth (similar). My necklace is from Nasty Gal (similar, $28)--a statement necklace makes conference outfits more fun, I think (also, metallics, like these lace up flats). The tan pencil skirt my mom bought me over 5 years ago as an investment in business clothes (similar). She was so right...I tend to stick with Kut from Kloth for jeans. I go to TJMaxx for shoes and other business wear. 

Good advice I got from a prof at this conference was “you don’t have to wait to have tenure to be yourself,” I’ve actually been trying to be ‘less professional’ because that’s often code for ‘white, middle class, heterosexual,’ and I’m definitely only middle class lolol. My number one goal is to be comfortable, both in terms of movement and with being myself. And letting my hair being as curly as I want :)

Megan: I was looking for something that would be easy to wear, and make me feel professional but still fun. My style is pretty lowkey (comp-ing...) but I really enjoy dressing up and conferences provide that. My white shirt is thrifted, and my black pencil skirt is from H&M, and my boots are Old Navy. Old Navy has some really great stuff going on--skinny dress pants, sweaters galore, and they’re always doing Madewell-esque things for half the price. My tan cardigan is also Old Navy, and my olive dress is thrifted.

I’m currently a gremlin because the water is off in my apartment hahaha

The Fall 10x10 has ended and here’s a recap of what I wore...

During a 10x10, you take 10 items of clothing (including shoes) and remix them into 10 different outfits over the course of 10 days. It’s a great way to try wearing old favorites in new ways. Here were my picks again:

I ended up pretty happy with my selection, which included 2 shirts, 1 dress, 1 jacket, 1 sweater, 2 pairs of pants, 1 skirt, and 2 pairs of shoes (I don’t usually include basics so I used a couple t-shirts as layers as well). I also got a new pair of leopard loafers of Poshmark halfway through the challenge so I threw them in too, as a way to figure out how to style them (they’re old Madewell but Madewell’s current version is here). 

Here’s a recap of some of the things I wore:

I tried layering my Vetta sweater in a couple of different ways to keep warm...

Clearly my thrifted tan J. Crew blazer was a favorite...

And I felt like *me* in all three of these business-casual outfits, which never happens!! Also because Instagram always asks, here is a link to my olive green dress pants :) 

Main takeaways: I’ve been wanting a camel colored sweater for a while, but my tan blazer stood in just fine and I think I finally figured out how to dress it down. I don’t usually wear skirts but this thrifted tweed skirt is my new favorite--so I think I’ll go looking for more a-line skirts in the future (versus pencil skirts, which I tend to find constraining). Overall, it was fun to take my business casual wardrobe (largely thrifted over the last 2 years!) for a test drive, and I’m feeling ready to tackle academic conference wear this week as a result.

Outfits for orientation week

Spring 10x10, so far.