For most of the country, spring is in the air! That means warmer temperatures, longer days, pretty flowers….and the beginning of Conference Season for Road Warriorette. There’s no two-week behemoth like last year (and thank goodness for it!) but I do have three conferences in three months. To make things tricky, all three are with very different audiences. And to make it even trickier, they’re in three very different climates! So I have to figure out how to stay true to what I know are the core conference clothing strategies, but tailor each wardrobe for the specific conference. Hmmmmm, a packing challenge? I accept! (Pictured: What will make you a conference-packing hero? A surge protector!!)

Core conference strategies:

• Comfort. A typical conference lasts from morning until night, therefore everything I wear has to be incredibly comfortable. Soft and stretchy is the name of the game—nothing too tight, with zippers or buttons that dig.
• Layers. Conferences are notorious for being either freezing cold or blazing hot. Wearing layers means I am prepared for any temperature! In the case that I have to lose my top layer, I have to make sure my underneath layer is appropriate and doesn’t show too much skin. On the other end of the spectrum, I keep a pashmina in my bag to use as a shawl or blanket if the conference hall is freezing.
• Shoes I can walk in. All of the conferences I’m attending are either in large hotels or conference centers, so I can count on tons of walking. Only my most comfortable shoes will do! (Although I may slip a pair of flip-flops into my purse for some of the longer hikes.)

Individual conference strategies:

Conference #1:

The first conference is in Las Vegas, where the high will be around 90 every day. This crowd is younger and trendier than the rest of my conferences, so I plan to use brighter colors and bolder accessories. An additional challenge: one night of cocktail attire.

Conference #2:

The second conference is in Colorado in May. This will likely be the most casual of the three conferences, and will also have the coolest temperatures. I will probably wear jeans or leggings with sweaters for cozy comfort.

Conference #3:

The last conference will be on the Gulf Coast of Texas in June, with for sure the hottest temperatures and most humidity. This will also be where I do the most walking outside (oh joy). I don’t know if I have a plan for this one yet….. maybe lots of dresses. And water. Lots of water.