to an MBA open house?
Just curious. Would this be business casual?
I’d play it safe and go more business than business casual. Basically interview attire.
Gosh I’m rusty. :((
What kind of MBA program? In my neck of the woods, business casual would be just right. 
If it is an open house for an MBA program, I don’t think you need to go in investment banker wear, I doubt they would remember anyone in the crowd of people and think “hmm, I remember her/him, they were wearing jeans”. If it is an open house for recruiters looking to hire MBA students, I would go with business wear, it never hurts with something like that to dress up a bit.
Assuming that we’re talking about a woman, I would suggest an outfit that is not a matched suit but includes a businesslike jacket. This type of outfit looks right in both business formal and business casual environments, which is convenient if you don’t know which type of environment you’ll be in.
One woman manager in a place where I used to work bought identical simply-styled suits in black and gray and always wore the black jacket with the gray skirt and vice versa (with a white or colored blouse). She looked right in every business environment in those outfits.
And there’s a high-ranking woman executive in the company where I work now who wears a black blouse and black skirt or pants every single day – along with one of her many bright-colored or patterned jackets. This, too, looks right in every business environment.
Do women outside of ‘House of Cards’ still wear matched suits nowadays?
Thank you all very much. I honestly didn’t know where else to ask. I lean toward the mixed look Marian describes. That way I could blend in better if I’m way off either way.
It’s at a local university, and includes info about all their programs . . . full time, part-time, online, executive, etc.
I should wear a power suit. 
In the legal world, matchy suits are still quite popular. Business world is a whole different story!
When I first moved to Florida (from the midwest) I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I saw being worn in the legal world.
I am a horrible dresser. Dislike trendy stuff. Love tailored and conventional. My sister tells me I dress 10 years too old. I don’t know why wearing a camisole as a shirt became OK.
So . . . at an MBA thing where there’s lots of younger people probably - how does a mid 40s person dress? I don’t want to be sad and pathetic or too young-ish either.
I’m way over-thinking this.
By way of example, when I first moved to Florida I was surprised women didn’t wear hose. Yes we’ve had this discussion on CC before.
No I do not wear hose in Florida. I have progressed.
I don’t wear matched suits anymore, but I generally wear a non-fitted jacket or a cardigan, skirt, top and shoes or a simple dress and lower heeled or flat shoes. I’ve transitioned to autumn colors and my fav go-to for business “stuff” is a wine colored sleeveless ponte- knit sheath dress, a fall colored print cardigan and wine colored flats. I’m also in love with the ponte-knit pencil skirts and have them in many colors and patterns as “go-to”. So, so comfy.
Wow that sounds great @momofthreeboys - my wheelhouse! I love pencil skirts (on the rare occasions I have to wear them).
Flats here too.
“So . . . at an MBA thing where there’s lots of younger people probably - how does a mid 40s person dress? I don’t want to be sad and pathetic or too young-ish either.”
I would wear a pencil skirt and a top or a shirt that is not too flashy. In the end, it is your GMAT score that counts!
Pants are out, dresses and skirts are in for professional women. And bare legs unless it is cold when tights are okay. If you want to be dressed like the younger cohort, wear a dress.
I’m dead then. Took the GMAT many years ago when I was going to do a dual JD/MBA program. If I remember correctly the math side of the score was none too impressive.
“Pants are out, dresses and skirts are in for professional women.”
I actually know many business women who only wear pants. They aren’t on the cutting edge of fashion, perhaps, but thy never wear dresses, skirts or heels.
I like the look of fitted dresses & wrap dresses. The best “power look” is being in shape.
=))
Actually don’t dress like most of the women in DC I never saw so many women dressed like the late 70s in my life. I’m 60 and even my friends don’t dress like that for work.
But yeah the in shape thing…sad to say…