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I am resisting the What to Wear to BlogHer post, for two reasons; not all of you are BlogHer-bound, for one, and those of you who are should know that there are no real rules about what to wear to the conference.
But still. I see your posts and Twitters and coments, and I hear you talking: OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR TO BLOGHER?!? Let's think about it this way: what would you wear to any function that would involve networking and socializing and meeting new people?
Oh right, that's why this is so hard.
I could give you all sorts of fancy advice about wrap dresses (chic! and fashionable!) and shirt dresses (easy to dress up! and down!) and jeans (dark rinse! mid rise!), but the real truth is this: any time you go some place new, any place that is unfamiliar and different, you need to wear what is comfortable for you, because when you are comfortable in your clothes, it is easier to be comfortable in your skin.
I really believe that.
It's easy, when you're going some place different and meeting new people, to fall into the trap of thinking that the best strategy is to buy a WHOLE NEW WARDROBE! or at least a few strategic pieces, but I promise you, this isn't the solution. New clothes won't make you a new person, and while I'm not opposed to picking up a few carefully chosen things for any trip, I strongly advise you to stick with what works for you. In other words, feel free to replace your faded and worn black pants with some new ones, but don't decide that this would be the time to dress more like Carrie Bradshaw and less like a soccer mom.
But why not seize this opportunity to recreate yourself? Why not take a chance and change your look? Because who you are isn't about how you look. Oh, sure, it's always a good idea to look professional and appropriate (no flip flops! seriously) but if you're a capris and a tee kind of girl, a new venue may not be the best place to experiment with stilettos and a tube top. Be yourself, even if that means wearing what you wear every day.
Does this mean that you're doomed to spend your entire trip to San Francisco or Denver or Albany or wherever you're going in the yoga pants and tank top you wore to chase your toddler around today? No. But it means that you should stay with what you know, with what's comfortable. If you wear mostly pants in your regular life, wear pants to this new venue; if you don't like heels, choose some cute flats.
While you're staying with what you know, though, think outside the box. Instead of those Crocs, get yourself some cute metallic ballet flats; instead of a tank top, look for a twinset or an embellished tee. Define your basic look and then dress it up, make it festive. Be yourself, but spiffier.
When you choose a look that is a version of what you wear every day, you will feel like yourself, and in a room full of people you've never met before, that matters. People want to get to know YOU, not your shoes or your dress. Be yourself, in clothes that fit and flatter you and feel comfortable, and your real personality will shine through. I promise.
Who else has advice about what to wear to BlogHer?
Kristin at Motherhood Uncensored suggests a sleeping baby. Amanda at The Wink has enlisted her daughters to help choose her outfits (they've got style, those girls). Baby Faith is dressing a mama and a tot for BlogHer. And Rhi in Pink has asked her readers what THEY are wearing.
Susan Wagner writes about style at Fashion Find and The Working Closet, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. Come see what's she's wearing at the Fashion and Shopping Birds of a Feather session at BlogHer!
