My first thought after signing up for WDS was, “what do I wear?” Although this is not a trivial question for most, I have never been to a conference and the name alone, WORLD DOMINATION SUMMIT, is a bit intimidating.
I mean, do I wear a cape? Of course! If you didn’t bring one, you were given one!
Packing can be tedious for most, but I enjoy it. I make a list the week before, if not sooner, and then I begin packing my bag for any and all possible events, like taking over the world. Mwahaha.
Technology has made life a more visual experience for most, so why not represent yourself at your best. Take this opportunity to express yourself through what you wear. Wardrobe will vary with each individual, as we are all unique individuals going into and leaving this event. But just in case this might be your first year going to WDS, here are some inspirational outfit ideas:
The event is technically three days; however, there were many additional meet-ups that could extend your stay a couple more days.
Thursday, arrived at PDX, first meet-up at The Punch Bowl Social. This is a pretty casual place; however, it is better to be over dressed than under dressed. My thought was this was cocktail hour! Makes sense, right?! My outfit was a cute chevron dress, but most were dressed business casual.
Friday consisted of waking up early for a 5k Fun Run around the Portland Waterfront hosted by the beautiful Nicole Antoinette. Followed by The Great Namaste in Pioneer Courthouse Square – where Portlanders broke the world record for the longest yoga chain. Um, awesome! Needless to say, this required workout gear, matching optional.
We had our first event early afternoon, so after cleaning up, we headed over to another local pub for our first meet-up, followed by our first speaker of the weekend. Registration took place in a nearby park followed by a short walk to the opening ceremony. For many, these events are casual, as you will be doing a bit of walking between events. 
Saturday included indoor speaker sessions with a break for the Portland Experience, in a nearby park, followed by another speaker session. This is a casual day. The evening wear depends on what event(s) you will be attending. We chose the Portland Spirit Cruise on the Willamette River, so some attendees continued in their outfits from earlier, while others chose to change. (This depends on where you are staying and if it’s even feasible to go to your hotel to change). A cute summer dress for girls and business casual for guys seems appropriate for light appetizers and drinks.
Sunday continued with more speaker sessions through the afternoon, followed by the closing party. Between Sessions, we also caught the World Cup Final Match at a local pub. There wasn’t too much time to change in between events, so I am thankful I dressed semi-casual, as there was a lot of dancing! And you never know what to expect when it comes to Chris Guillebeau and team.
NOTE: Your overall outfit goal should be to visually convey your best self, so you fully engage and share your talents and expertise at the event.
