I’m going to a professional event that my boss for my summer internship wanted me to go to: https://techdaynw.com. The field is engineering and I’m a 17 year old girl and I’m not really sure what to wear. No skirts or dresses because I don’t like wearing them normally, but should I wear jeans or black dress pants? What kind of top? Does it have to be button down? Should it be tucked in? Help me! I’m bad at style on a normal day and this is an environment I’m not completely used to.
Black pants or even a more formal black legging (not yoga pants) with a blouse is fine. There’s a lot of black pants that don’t have to look like the ones mom wears to the office. My D went to something similar and she did black pants with a blouse un-tucked but then topped it with an jacket, you could do an unstructured jacket if it is even needed (just a blouse may be fine, sorta depends when you pull it all together). If you have a light jacket/blazer thing you can even put a tank underneath it. The pants were a straight cut so not tight at the ankle but not big and billowy either. She actually wore a cool pair of metallic gray converse or vans with it so it had a techy-hip-young thing going while maintaining a semi-professional look to it. I wouldn’t wear jeans, I prefer risking looking a little too nice than too dressed down. imo. Good luck!
You can see in the pic in the link to techday that everyone is casual. However jeans may make you look like a kid. I agree that casual blank pants, simple top and flats are a good way to go for a bit a of professional look.
I’d agree with the prevailing opinion as it looks like most people are business casual. I’d go with black slacks, flats, and a blouse (tucked or not depending on the style). And as an aside, you should thank your boss for sending you to this.
Tech conferences are usually pretty casual. Typically on the guys you’ll see everything from shorts to jeans to business casual, with jeans and a polo or button-down being most prevalent. Normally the business casual and suited-up people are vendors. Women tend to dress a little bit nicer than the men, IME. I think jeans on women are viewed differently from jeans on men in this particular context; sexist I know, but this is just my personal observation from attending at least one conference a year for the part 25 years. Slacks and skirts are typically what I see on women during the day, but at evening social events most everybody will be in jeans or equivalent.
Anyway, as others have said be comfortable and casual, but hold off on the jeans and yoga pants until you get there and see what other women are wearing. Also wear comfy shoes; no real need to pack the heels.
Yes. Definitely wear comfy shoes. High heels would not fit in at all.
I generally don’t wear jeans at tech conferences but primarily because they are heavy to pack in the suitcase. The conferences that I attend have a lot of people wearing t-shirts, but in the photo for this particular tech day conference I don’t see any t-shirts at all.
Black pants, yes that would be a good look. Any top that covers your entire torso is ok – no bare midriff. A light unstructured jacket or blazer would be good as the rooms can get cold and it also makes for a more polished look.