@HarvestMoon1 I could see how the look wouldn’t work on petites while slim/cigarette pants don’t work on a larger, taller (unless you have a super model body) or more big boned person. I think its best to stick to what works for one’s body type with less/little focus on trends. They change so frequently and are driven by the desire to have us part with our $.
When in doubt, I always check what Hugo Boss, Max Mara, and Classiques (Nordstrom line) have in their current collections. These three brands usually stay away from fashion fads yet offer stylish looks that can be updated with a few small pieces or accessories.
If you are like me and have looong legs you can wear just about any type of pant. I never went for the super skinny or the “jeggings” thing just because I thought they didn’t look good on anyone. I never wore stirrup pants in the 80s either. and I am definitely more comfortable with dresses or skirts than pants in general. I do like the “edgy” classics of the type that Bunsen is talking about as they tend to be timeless and transcend trends.
The other thing to keep in mind is this is not a business event, it is an open house for an MBA program at some university, and I doubt very much what you wear there will influence your admission or not, they won’t remember you when you apply, unless there is some kind of interview at this event, which if there were I have never seen that before. Maybe, just maybe, if this was a top business program, a Harvard or Wharton, it might matter, but I wouldn’t overthink it, open houses like this are more about them attracting students then students selling themselves to the school, so don’t overthink it. Wear something nice that you feel comfortable in, and then don’t worry about it.
True.
All the same, it’s nice to have personal standards and not dress like a Tellytubbie.
“I doubt very much what you wear there will influence your admission or not”
I agree. Feeling that you are appropriately dressed for an occasion does help you to perform your best, which in this case might be learning everything you can about whether the program is right for you.
I totally get why the OP would want to fit in with the crowd, even though it will have no effect whatsoever on her admission to the programs represented. Part of what she is assessing is whether the program feels right to her. Part of her assessment will have to do with how she feels among the other participants. What she is wearing could totally affect how she feels.
I’m a big believer in intuition, but you need to stack the deck a little bit so that your intuition isn’t thrown off by negative-self-talk. At least I have to. For me, my intuition is at its best when I feel confident, and the truth is that feeling confident in how I look feeds into an overall sense of confidence (and vice versa). Perhaps that is totally shallow and twisted, but that’s my reality. So I understand why the OP would care, despite the lack of relevance to admission.
To add to what has been said. If it a small program, it pays off not being remembered by the adcoms as a “that dowdily dressed lady.” 
Gonna go to a hangout tonight and will report what female MBAs wore to the shindig. At least one of them will be wearing a fitted AC dress and nude heels.
So I went to the info session . . . it was fun! Ended up wearing grey dress pants, a nice camisole top with a short sleeve black cardigan and black flats. Very neutral. It felt right. Thank you for your help everyone!
As far as the other attendees - saw everything from sports jerseys to full suits.
The MBA admissions/university staff - they were all in full business dress.
I enjoyed hearing about the programs (they have a few). It was interesting.
Glad it worked out! I was wondering if anyone would show up in jeans.
Re: Prime Meridian’s post #33 of the G20 summit: I respect Angela Merkel deeply. However, with regard to her outfit, as QMP used to say to me sometimes, “That is not a good look for you, Mom.” That outfit would have been great with black or gray pants. And just as matched.
I kind of love that Merkel isn’t a fashion plate and is still so freaking powerful and successful! How do you say, “You go, girl!” in german? Sie gehen, Madchen! (?)
Merkel’s outfit is ill-fitting, dowdy and the colors are not flattering, but it is not as bad as the picture posted above, which had something wrong with the color. Her trousers were winter white trousers, not pink.
It really does not matter if Merkel’s outfits are stylish or to our liking. Or if we like Hillery Clinton’s pant suits. The truth of the matter is these are two of the most powerful women in the world. Merkel is one of the most powerful humans in the world. Hillary, if she is elected president will be the most powerful human on this earth. If pants suits work for her, and Merkel, they should work for every woman!
Let’s talk about Trump’s attire. For a guy who is supposedly worth a HUGE amount of money, why do his suits look like they were bought off the clearance rack at JC Penney? He dresses like crap and should tell his tailor “You’re fired!”. And his spray tan “girl” (because I’m guessing it’s a gal). Don’t get me started on the hair…
Trump had his own line of ties and shirts… Should have kept a few to wear in the campaign trail.
Another of his businesses that went bankrupt?
Apparently, he is still sellin’…
http://www.trump.com/merchandise/signature-collection/
Trump should not have linked to Amazon, lol. When I click on “Trump Collection”, this comes up
https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Donald-Twill-Stripe-Shirt/dp/B003YUBGCY
But also this comes up - in the same search!!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DAQG9R8
A lesson for any MBA: check your internet distribution channels carefully. Make sure your stuff comes up at the top of the search, not the other “stuff.” LOL!!!
I don’t understand Merkel’s style, but find it fascinating. She is an intelligent woman with probably unlimited access to stylists. I assume her look is extremely deliberate. Why is she choosing it? What is she telling us? It’s perplexing to me.
Notice Donald’s stuff is imported.
Those shirts in the Trump line look O.K. online but they could not possibly be a quality business shirt at that price – $42.00? Where can you purchase a decent men’s dress shirt for that price?
I think he should switch up his ties. He seems to prefer solid colored ties which seem kind of hokey to me. Most NY businessmen wear a foulard print or regimental/ university striped pattern. I think they tend to have more of a power look to them.
His suits appear to be of good quality but always look slightly big on him.