What not to wear

Academics don't tend to be very aware of fashion "rules".
Most people won't notice what you wear. I have been to numerous conferences as a grad student and I have seen full professors in everything from business casual to jeans, graphic tee, blazer, and sneakers. After your first conference, you will start to get the hang of it. Plus, if you count how many times anyone mentions your clothing or the way someone else is dressed, you'll probably come to a count of zero.

For those that want some guidelines, here's my take on what generally doesn't look appropriate:

• graphic t-shirts
• hoodies or pyjama pants
• ripped pants or shorts
• bright running shoes or toe-shoes
• anything revealing or sexual
• leggings, yoga pants, or "athleisure" clothing

Basically: don't look like an undergrad student, this isn't a date, and this isn't a gym.

Dress like an adult. You don't need to dress like "The Man" since this is academia, not the corporate world. Many academics tend to be less concerned with appearances.

Wear what you feel comfortable wearing within those general guidelines.

Shoes

I'm a fan of nice shoes. You don't need them so understand that this section is mostly for me.

If you're going for business casual, wearing fancy shoes will pull your outfit together.
If you don't have comfortable dress shoes, clean sneakers are entirely acceptable.
Wearing sneakers with a jacket looks silly so, if you're going with sneakers, opt for a sweater instead.

Academia is a perfect place to wear less formal dress shoes —e.g. derbies, blüchers, monks, or any type of loafer– though oxfords are also appropriate. In a warmer climate, boat shoes could work. In a colder climates or with rain, dress boots, Jodhpurs, Chelseas, and chukkas would also fit in. Any of these can pull an average business casual outfit into a stylish one.

That said...

Most academics won't notice your shoes.
Wear shoes that allow your feet to be comfortable standing, sitting, and walking.
A conference probably isn't the best time to "break in" new shoes! Nobody wants blisters!

Research Psychology

The range tends to be from slightly less formal than business casual (e.g. relaxed tenured profs) up to slightly more formal than business casual (e.g. the keynote speaker).
Specifically, business casual works, but jeans are acceptable (clean, non-ripped jeans). Button-down shirts are very common, but you could wear a polo or a plain t-shirt if it is warm.

You don't need a jacket or blazer, but you might want a second layer since conference centres often use air-conditioning that can get pretty chilly. A cardigan or nice pull-over sweater are both viable alternatives to a jacket (though avoid bulky hoodies). A scarf or shawl can be a versatile accessory, too.

Clinical

Clinical psychologists tend to dress slightly more formally than research psychologists.
Somehow, they also seem to have nicer sweaters...

Cardigans are great.
Personally, I love anything with a cable-knit.

Other Conferences

Suits can actually be appropriate at mixed conferences where the majority of people are not researchers or clinicians.

For example, psychiatrists tend to dress more formally than researchers; if you are going to a medical conference, you might feel comfortable dressing up a little more. Likewise, if you are going to a business conference with a lot of corporate representatives, a suit could be entirely appropriate and anything less may make you feel a bit underdressed.

Conference attire also depends on location, both because of climate and national styles.
In my experience, European conferences tend to have more stylish attire than Canadian or American conferences, which tend to be okay with attire of lesser formality. If you combine informality with heat —e.g. an American conference in Florida during a humid season— you can witness plenty of academics walking around in shorts and sandals.

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