Unspoken dress codes for academic and publishing events are one of the things that MOST makes me feel like I missed some kind of vital life lesson everybody else got. I don't know the rules, I don't know how anybody else knows them, and half the time I didn't even realise there WERE rules. - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

finnlongman.com • 51 days ago

Unspoken dress codes for academic and publishing events are one of the things that MOST makes me feel like I missed some kind of vital life lesson everybody else got. I don't know the rules, I don't know how anybody else knows them, and half the time I didn't even realise there WERE rules.

Reposted from Néide

this particularly comes up with dress codes when people start talking about what you're supposed to wear, how you'll be viewed if you wear [outfit i definitely wore], how this contributes to exclusion etc and you're like. damn i didn't even know i was breaking the rules cos no one told me about them

Comments

basilaprice.bsky.social•51 days ago

It doesn't help that it varies hugely depending upon the conference that you're at. Gender and Medieval Studies, for example, is extremely informal, for example, and IMC is what I would call 'business casual'. Countries also have different rules! Scandinavia: Chill. Germany and France?: Less Chill.

basilaprice.bsky.social•51 days ago

I genuinely found this website super helpful for strategizing about different kinds of events, even though its all womenswear. It gave me a sense of what the vibe was.
https://phdinclothes.com/

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Yeah, for sure. As far as I can tell, Celtic Studies is incredibly chill and nobody really seems to care (BUT MAYBE THEY DO AND I JUST DIDN'T REALISE, which is a fear I have whenever I see Discourse about etiquette or dress codes). Publishing, though... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Who even knows.

adammbishop.bsky.social•51 days ago

I always laugh at this picture, where I'm the only person wearing sneakers/running shoes/whatever you call them at a conference. I didn't want to walk around in fancier shoes! I don't care!

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finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I have genuinely no clue how anybody, in any area of life, knows what they are "supposed" to wear if it isn't explicitly stated. If there are no written rules, I will assume no rules. If there are unwritten rules, please write them, as I am not telepathic and especially not about clothes. Thanks.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

(This was not a request for advice on this occasion, but a reminder that the organisers of events should consider being specific if it would upset them for someone to show up in my usual walking trousers and fleece, and also a statement that I will not imagine the rules myself if not told them.)

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Anyway some academic outfits (conference | conference | graduation | Old Irish class during my MA, yes that's a blanket). If anyone's mad about it they haven't told me yet, so I think I'm probably fine in academic settings (in my field). Publishing, on the other hand... yeah, that's a mystery.

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medievalmaryq.bsky.social•51 days ago

I've seen top academics show up for conferences in shorts. That said, I give my students some basic advice: wear comfortable shoes (except while presenting if necessary), generally a half-step nicer than you'd teach it, a bit nicer than that for presenting, suits are not usually worn but you do you.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Footwear is one aspect where I will make very few concessions to the environment I am in, because I don't own a wide variety of shoes (so wear basically the same ones everywhere) and their style is dictated 100% by comfort, because I am too disabled to wear uncomfortable shoes in ANY setting.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Honestly never occurred to me anyone might be looking at my shoes in general, though I will probably wear the black ones with a suit or in a formal outfit (but dress code is usually specified in those cases).

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I haven't done a lot of teaching and when I did, most of the students were online (did my MA in 2020-21); the first conferences I presented at were online too. I think this has contributed to my general confusion at what relative levels of smartness might look like.

medievalmaryq.bsky.social•51 days ago

True -- the online teaching outfit (pj bottoms and nicer top) may not quite be in-person conference ready ; )

medievalmaryq.bsky.social•51 days ago

My overall advice to my students is: comfort, a style you feel good about yourself in, a bit nicer/professional look whatever that means for you.

medievalmaryq.bsky.social•51 days ago

Too much standing and walking at conferences not to be comfortable. Wearing less comfy but nicer looking shoes while presenting is less about people looking at you and more about self-confidence (for some. ok for me). If you feel good about what you are wearing, short of wearing a swimsuit, do it.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I think being disabled lets me get away with a lot. Sitting on the floor? Frowned upon. Sitting on the floor with a walking stick next to me? Oh no, let's find them a chair. Or: wearing baggy cargo pants? Potentially frowned upon. Wearing baggy cargo pants *in a wheelchair*? Practical! Fine!

medievalmaryq.bsky.social•51 days ago

Oh, and if you wear skirts, avoid shorter ones on presentation or presiding day in case the room you are in has speakers on a dias.

wurdsmyth.bsky.social•51 days ago

I hear you. My first publisher’s annual summer party was a full-on, evening dress spectacular, so when I moved publishers after a few years, I assumed it would be the same. Nope. Most people in jeans/ultra casuals. And me being sniggered at for looking like I was going to the Oscars… 🤷🏻‍♀️

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Publishing parties and book events in general really feel like an absolute lucky dip and I never have a clue what to wear. If you're lucky, they'll put "smart casual" on the invite, so then everybody will be equally uncertain.

wurdsmyth.bsky.social•51 days ago

Exactly this. ‘But these are my smartest casual jeans!’ ☺️

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I went to a publishing party in 2022 that had a 'smart casual' dress code and it was during the heatwave so it was about 32°c. I don't wear dresses, so needless to say I had nothing appropriate for this weather. Ended up -- I kid you not -- literally wearing pyjama shorts, ironed to look smarter.

queencityac.bsky.social•51 days ago

I remember an American woman living in France describing how it served her well that her family how to dress appropriately for all occasions and I was like, what are you talking about?

sharrow.bsky.social•51 days ago

It's a type of classism, and gatekeeping.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Yeah. It's one that baffles me deeply, though, because I very rarely notice the gate and wander straight on through, and only subsequently, when I see people talking about the gate, do I realise anybody was trying to keep me out/judging me once I was inside. Utterly oblivious.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

So much gatekeeping seems to rely on you knowing enough to realise it's happening but I'm rubbish at social subtext so it doesn't work on me. Like people asking me what school I went to when I was at uni. Wasn't until YEARS later I realised this was mostly code for Was It A Famous Private School

sharrow.bsky.social•51 days ago

I spent a lot time trying to figure out 'hidden' communications and signs and symbols, cos I missed them and suffered the consequences.

I can figure them, pattern recognition, but can't use them cos, I am so not the 'right' type.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I don't *think* I've suffered consequences, but I also sometimes wonder if maybe I would get invited to more book events/festivals and things if I were better at conforming, so perhaps I *am* suffering the consequences and just hadn't quite realised. 😶

queencityac.bsky.social•51 days ago

The context was that this woman was giving me advice about living in France, so I suppose she was trying to make explicit some codes I would not have noticed otherwise. It may have had the opposite effect of what she intended, because my reaction was to think I'd never understand.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

Clearly they have access to The Secret Knowledge! (But if you are the only person at an event who has it, and therefore everybody else is dressed "wrong"... who is really wrong?)

jennahollan.bsky.social•51 days ago

My experience for science events is jeans & shirt but you bring a jacket. You don’t necessarily have to wear the jacket, but you do have to bring one 😉 !!

Business studies academics seem to all wear suits. I have absolutely no idea what the rules are for the humanities.

finnlongman.com•51 days ago

I don't think I've seen any suits in a medieval Celtic Studies situation, but I could see a jacket, possibly with elbow patches... 😆 I think one factor in me not knowing rules (or if there ARE rules) is that I also don't really notice or remember what anybody else wears, unless very distinctive.

jennahollan.bsky.social•23 days ago

Nice. I would 100% go for elbow patches - just for the flex 😉😁. You could really lean into this. Like elbow patches in tartan or with cartoon decals 🤣😂🤣. AFAI can see these days pretty much anything goes (with the exception of athleisure wear).