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[drkinbote]

I am going to a conference in London this July and haven't ever been to a conference in the summer (most of my usual conference clothes are for fall or winter). What kind of attire is the norm at summer conferences?

This is a relatively long conference, so I am hoping to not have to go buy a week's worth of new clothes!

Thanks in advance!

[theblondeassassin]

The UK is easy in the summer -- bring appropriate clothes for arctic, sub-tropic, and tropical climes.

Seriously, the weather in July can range from US mid-spring (warm mid-day, cool evenings) to hot (t-shirt and shorts), sometimes in the same day.

Plus the matter of precipitation ....

The answer is layering, and things that can work together. If it's an academic conference, it will likely be scruffier than the US equivalent (at least in my field).

[oddlyodd]

smart-casual, but the emphasis on casual, unless you are in a professional-related field such as business. People tend to wear a suit only if they're a) a grad student wanting to impress; b) a veteran professor; or c) if the conference dinner is at a posh venue.

I totally agree about the layers - July temperatures could range from anything between 55 to 90 degrees F. Bring a waterproof, too, just to be on the safe side.

[scotia]

Also, be prepared for the fact that there may or may not be air conditioning - and possibly both within the same conference venue. I remember various bits of me freezing off in one room and then going to the next session in a building just across the street and wondering if they were trying to save on the catering bill by serving broiled delegate. That was in August. Mostly the UK does not do air conditioning.

[drkinbote]

Thank you! I somehow almost always guess wrong and end up usually being overdressed. My academic styledar appears to be permanently off. So, layers, smart casual. That's very helpful!

I am especially concerned about this because, according to the conference program, men outnumber women at this conference 10 to 1 or so. And, I think I may be about 25-30 years younger than the median age...

Which makes me wonder if I am intellectually an old man trapped in a youngish woman's body. But that is a different problem.

 

[frogfactory]

I was going to ask your sex.  Yes, men have it much easier.  You can't go wrong with a plain shirt and smart trousers, plus or minus jacket.

Of course, I suppose the same is also true for women, although rocking that look seems to be a bit more formal on us.

[llanfair]

I've only been in England in summertime once, and I'm vowing never again.  The humidity is not to be believed.  As much as I love the UK, I'm sticking to fall, winter, and spring from now on.  Whatever you go with, make sure it breathes!

[janewales]

I'm also heading to a conference in the UK in July. My paper-giving outfit is a simple shift dress that can be worn with or without a lightweight cardigan, depending on the air conditioning situation. For me, the problem revolves around hose. It could indeed be stinking hot and humid, and I tend to swell in that kind of weather, so pantyhose would add to the misery. But leaving them off might lead to frozen appendages if there is air-conditioning, and/ or frozen glares if it turns out the dress-code is unusually conservative.

So, maybe I should wear trousers. But I don't have nice summer trousers, and the killer shoes wouldn't be nearly as impressive with trousers.

Grapple, grapple.

[neutralname]

I've only been in England in summertime once, and I'm vowing never again.  The humidity is not to be believed.  As much as I love the UK, I'm sticking to fall, winter, and spring from now on.  Whatever you go with, make sure it breathes!

<scratches head>  The humidity?  Compared to where?  I'll take London humidity over east coast or midwest summer humidity any day. 

[frogfactory]

I'm also heading to a conference in the UK in July. My paper-giving outfit is a simple shift dress that can be worn with or without a lightweight cardigan, depending on the air conditioning situation. For me, the problem revolves around hose. It could indeed be stinking hot and humid, and I tend to swell in that kind of weather, so pantyhose would add to the misery. But leaving them off might lead to frozen appendages if there is air-conditioning, and/ or frozen glares if it turns out the dress-code is unusually conservative.

So, maybe I should wear trousers. But I don't have nice summer trousers, and the killer shoes wouldn't be nearly as impressive with trousers.

Grapple, grapple.

This is what suspender belts and non-elasticated stockings were made for, I tell you.  Just don't buy too cheap a suspender belt.  There's nothing quite as off-putting as going *ping* and having to grab a collapsing stocking in the middle of talking to someone.

< /voice of experience>

[llanfair]

I've only been in England in summertime once, and I'm vowing never again.  The humidity is not to be believed.  As much as I love the UK, I'm sticking to fall, winter, and spring from now on.  Whatever you go with, make sure it breathes!

<scratches head>  The humidity?  Compared to where?  I'll take London humidity over east coast or midwest summer humidity any day. 

Hee hee! That's just the reaction I got from the natives, too.

[msparticularity]

I'm also heading to a conference in the UK in July. My paper-giving outfit is a simple shift dress that can be worn with or without a lightweight cardigan, depending on the air conditioning situation. For me, the problem revolves around hose. It could indeed be stinking hot and humid, and I tend to swell in that kind of weather, so pantyhose would add to the misery. But leaving them off might lead to frozen appendages if there is air-conditioning, and/ or frozen glares if it turns out the dress-code is unusually conservative.

So, maybe I should wear trousers. But I don't have nice summer trousers, and the killer shoes wouldn't be nearly as impressive with trousers.

Grapple, grapple.

This is what suspender belts and non-elasticated stockings were made for, I tell you.  Just don't buy too cheap a suspender belt.  There's nothing quite as off-putting as going *ping* and having to grab a collapsing stocking in the middle of talking to someone.

< /voice of experience>

And wear cotton stockings--not nylon. Go straight to www.sockdreams.com and you'll find any number of lovely things.

[11thfloor]

Oh no, you don't need stockings in July.  Wear the shift dress. 

[ucprof]

Just got back from London the weather was very similar to what we are having on the California coast right now.
Coolish mostly sunny, a spot of rain now and then.  I take comfortable slacks and simple knit shirts (e.g. dressy t-shirts) and I have laundry done at my hotel for a longer trip I find that easier than taking too many clothes with me.  Make sure you have an umbrella with you and a light jacket or sweater.

[totoro]

I grew up in London. It isn't hot there. Most of the time, anyway. Unless you are used to Alaska or somewhere. What can be hot is the Underground. If the weather is exceptionally hot by chance then there is less respite from the heat than in countries which are more usually hot and have lots of air-conditioning etc. I find the US East Coast to be really hot and humid in the summer though in the more northerly parts it's not as bad as most of the time in the tropics.