Heading to a conference. Great way to spend a summer. Especially when you just so happen to get to stay in the same hotel where you spent your wedding night. So, now that you know you’ll be sitting in the evenings in a roof top hot tub, enjoying blackout curtains and having your beautiful wife join you there for three nights… you’re left with the question of what to wear.
This could be like many teacher things, and involve a wide array of styles – from cargo shorts and polo shirts, to pencil skirts and blouses. I’m going to aim for a happy mix of comfortable, bright and eclectic – add a dash of confidence and no one will know that I’ve never been trained in TOK before (Theory of Knowledge *an International Baccalaureate Program course about ‘Ways of Knowing’ and ‘Areas of Knowledge’). The initial email was full of so much jargon and abbreviations that I whimpered and called my friend Jenn for help with translations. Never fear – I will look poised and competent, absorbing as much as I can from 3 days of professional development.
Patterned skirt and blouse, and swap these heels out for a small wedge – any shoes you can walk in. Perfect for the journey to the venue and for walking post-session.
A maxi-dress and cropped white blazer. Appropriate for a summer meeting, but lose the hat – instead I’ll be flat iron- curling my lob.
A shell in a solid colour (black for me, with a nice wide neck) and a high-waisted skirt in a bubbly print (I’ll be wearing citrine and black and grey geometric). Add some pretty black patent leather peep toe wedges.
I’ll suss out the level of business in the boardroom (conference center? lounge? we’ll see), and determine how dressy to go based on what I encounter on day one.
I have a dress almost exactly like this; same shade with a swirling cream pattern. Paired with a great necklace and laser cutout leather wedge gladiators… I’m all set for daytime and dinner afterwards.
I don’t have anything quite like this, but I like the vibe. The patterned frock and sweet jacket with a bold contrasting necklace. Do-able.
Simple and comfortable. This skirt is my favourite colour and stands out (probably always) but especially paired with black.
A blouse, tucked in our out, will look perfect with wide leg linen trousers (cropped and high waisted, to show off some ankle and a great pair of shoes – preferably not ones that would make me walk like a girl graduating from grade 8 in her first pair of ill-fitting heels). Swap out a few accessories and you’re ready for night time. Or change the pants for jeans if you are feeling constricted.
Each day after the conference I’ll hit the gym at the hotel, and then meet friends in the evenings, pretending that I still live downtown and am not a fixture of suburbia.
Always a fan of stripes with gold and red. Ahoy!
Bring those cropped trousers back and pair them with a graphic top.
My favourite new pants are a genius creation from Titika, in a bright print, they are cut like a trouser but bend like a yoga salutation. With a simple top, they are big bang for the buck.
These are my new go-to pant. They feel AMAZING – as described above.
Stay tuned for whether I got a passing grade. What is on your work wardrobe hit list?
StyleSaVie 