Along with
science, I’ve always had an interest in fashion. I love watching project Runway
and reading tweets about the latest trends. This may be one reason that I
always got excited about scientific meetings in graduate school. They gave me a
chance to dress up, compared to my daily outfit of jeans and gym shoes in the
lab.
Here are some
of my tips about chic and comfy conference wear:
- I recommend packing some cute wrinkle-free dresses or shirts. This will help you save time in the morning, so you can focus on a day of exciting science.
- Personally, I think it’s good to have some outfits that are bright and colorful. Many business clothes at conferences are grey and black. Thus, a pop of color, like red, or a cool print can help you stand out.
- Coordinate with your presentation. For example, if you have a poster that is blue, you could wear a matching dress/shirt/tie. Also, if you have a talk in a large, dark room, you may want to wear a light color.
- Some female T.V. characters with style that would be great for scientific meetings include Claire Underwood in House of Cards, Olivia Pope in Scandal, Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife, and Jessica Pearson in Suits.
- Male T.V. characters wearing nice suits that would work well at scientific conferences are Mike Ross and Harvey Spector in Suits, Walter O’Brien (business attire) in Scorpion, Don Cheadle in House of Lies, and Rafael Barba in Law and Order: SVU.
- "Let’s get some shoes.” When I’m giving a presentation, I prefer to wear heels. The added height makes me feel taller and more confident. However, it’s also important to have comfortable dress shoes at scientific meetings, especially if you have to walk a lot. I recommend bringing a couple pairs that would work with your clothes, whether it’s flats, men’s dress shoes, high heels, or wedges.
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| My Red Power Heels |
- My last tip is to wear what makes you feel good and expresses your own, individual personality. I love dresses, so that’s what I bring for conferences. A fellow graduate student in my lab liked to wear bow ties at scientific meetings. Some people like to add accent jewelry. #YouDoYou and dress in a way that will make you feel like the scientific expert that you are.
