Conference attire

[nancysinatra]

Ok so one of the many things I didn't fully comprehend before I signed up for this profession was that I would one day find myself needing to make the dreaded trip to Ann Taylor Loft and Nordstrom Rack so as to beef up my collection of affordable and appropriately stuffy business casual clothing in anticipation of a conference.

I am heading to a meeting next week. It's in the field I hope to subspecialize in. So what do other people usually wear to conferences? Business wear? Business casual? Jeans?

Whenever I see someone in jeans at a conference, I always think they must be a basic scientist (or an under cover medical anthropologist). When someone's in a suit I wonder if they're trying to impress someone, or if they just like to dress that way, or if they feel it's an obligation. But of course, no one ever talks about this.

Now that I think about it, I will need a coat too!

Anyway I'm curious what you all wear at these things...

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[billypilgrim37]

I think generally it's safe to just wear the same sort of things you would wear to work, nothing more, nothing less. Everything is more straightforward for guys, so when presenting I throw on a sport coat, but for the rest of the time just slacks and a dress shirt. My guess is that women could "get away" with dressing much more casually, and nice-looking jeans would probably be fine.

If you're going to AACAP, it's pretty laid back. Just look generally kempt you will have no problems.

Save your money for the plane tickets 😉

 

[F0nzie]

I'd iron my work clothes

 

[twright]

I'd iron my work clothes

👍

 

[nancysinatra]

I think generally it's safe to just wear the same sort of things you would wear to work, nothing more, nothing less. Everything is more straightforward for guys, so when presenting I throw on a sport coat, but for the rest of the time just slacks and a dress shirt. My guess is that women could "get away" with dressing much more casually, and nice-looking jeans would probably be fine.

If you're going to AACAP, it's pretty laid back. Just look generally kempt you will have no problems.

Save your money for the plane tickets 😉

You should see some of the things I have gotten away with wearing to work lately... Ok, not I'm NOT disheveled, but I could put more thought into my work wardrobe. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on it these days. I have enough bills as it is applying for licenses, DEA numbers, etc.

Alas, the conference isn't AACAP. The crowd at this conference is going to be a bit more on the formal side, I suspect. Uh oh.

 

[nitemagi]

You should see some of the things I have gotten away with wearing to work lately... Ok, not I'm NOT disheveled, but I could put more thought into my work wardrobe. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on it these days. I have enough bills as it is applying for licenses, DEA numbers, etc.

Alas, the conference isn't AACAP. The crowd at this conference is going to be a bit more on the formal side, I suspect. Uh oh.

If it's AAPL, don't let the guys in suits intimidate you. Some (not all) of the forensics people fall into two major camps -- the lawyers (high money and attraction to the law), and the weirdoes. Both groups can wear suits. As a resident wearing business casual is quite fine. A suit only if you're presenting. You'll probably get recruited without having to dress to impress. People wear jeans on the last day.

 

[PikminOC]

You should see some of the things I have gotten away with wearing to work lately... Ok, not I'm NOT disheveled, but I could put more thought into my work wardrobe. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on it these days. I have enough bills as it is applying for licenses, DEA numbers, etc.

Alas, the conference isn't AACAP. The crowd at this conference is going to be a bit more on the formal side, I suspect. Uh oh.

I got my oral board suit from Goodwill. It was Kasper and i had a 15% off coupon. I took it to the dry cleaner and wore it!

 

[nancysinatra]

I got my oral board suit from Goodwill. It was Kasper and i had a 15% off coupon. I took it to the dry cleaner and wore it!

I am a sucker for anything pre-owned. And speaking of which, this gives me a chance to post this again:

This movie, My Cousin Vinny, is the best. However if you take sartorial cues from it, you will have problems.

 

[billypilgrim37]

You should see some of the things I have gotten away with wearing to work lately... Ok, not I'm NOT disheveled, but I could put more thought into my work wardrobe. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on it these days. I have enough bills as it is applying for licenses, DEA numbers, etc.

Alas, the conference isn't AACAP. The crowd at this conference is going to be a bit more on the formal side, I suspect. Uh oh.

Which is why everybody should be a child psychiatrist. Nobody judges you for looking like an old navy catalog!

Honestly, I haven't worn anything fancier than a polo shirt since July 1. I'm a 5th year child fellow, and they put me in charge of the schedule and stuff. I dare them to forward me the dress code one more time! Technically, I think my beard violates our dress code, seeing as the dress code sounds like it was stolen from the Marine Corps manual from the 50s or something.

 

[diagonal]

Which is why everybody should be a child psychiatrist. Nobody judges you for looking like an old navy catalog!

Honestly, I haven't worn anything fancier than a polo shirt since July 1. I'm a 5th year child fellow, and they put me in charge of the schedule and stuff. I dare them to forward me the dress code one more time! Technically, I think my beard violates our dress code, seeing as the dress code sounds like it was stolen from the Marine Corps manual from the 50s or something.

The child psych I work with literally dresses like he's homeless with a dash of ******, but he's 80 and is a sweetheart. It works.

 

[nancysinatra]

I dare them to forward me the dress code one more time! Technically, I think my beard violates our dress code, seeing as the dress code sounds like it was stolen from the Marine Corps manual from the 50s or something.

Post it! I dare you to!

 

[billypilgrim37]

Post it! I dare you to!

Haha, I'll have to see if I still have a copy in my email somewhere. I just remember that the "average psychiatrist beard" (and I've been rocking the same beard since 2004) would violate the facial hair policy. Usually they send it out about once a year because we cover a lot of different hospitals for consults and on weekends we all keep wearing sneakers, and apparently there is one mean old lady who keeps complaining about us.

 

[PikminOC]

I am a sucker for anything pre-owned. And speaking of which, this gives me a chance to post this again:

This movie, My Cousin Vinny, is the best. However if you take sartorial cues from it, you will have problems.

Hey now, I resemble that remark.

 

[SuperSoccer19]

I went to the APA this spring and the first day wore business casual--black slacks and a button down shirt and actually brushed my hair (im a female). I saw that there was a range from more formal (usually the presenters--suits, dresses, etc.) to people in jeans. I never went there in jeans, but after day two I wore khaki capris, flip flops, and a polo shirt.