Western Business Attire Explained

Preparing for your first Model UN conference can be stressful. It involves reading--and understanding--the background guide, researching to write a position paper, familiarizing yourself with the rules of procedure and many other things. However, one almost equally important topic that is often overlooked when preparing for a MUN is how to dress. Yes, you heard me: MUNs have a dress code, and the mot d’ordre is Western business attire.

“Western business attire” means exactly what it is. In other words, the term designates how the business community dresses in the Western World, namely Canada, the United States and Europe. Now, if you do not own a full suit-and-tie, fear not. Contrary to most MUN conferences, LawMUN is only a day-long event, meaning that you only need a single outfit (as the Friday gathering is only semi-formal). Nevertheless, here are a few tips regarding how to dress for a MUN.

Men

If you already own a suit, a nice button-down shirt, a tie and dress shoes, you are all set. However, in the event that you do not and that you are not entirely ready to spend that type of money just yet, a nice pair of pants (and by pants, I don’t mean jeans) and a nice button-down shirt could easily do the trick. However, no sneakers allowed! If you do not own dress shoes, you might want to invest in a pair.

Women

Women have a few more options than men when it comes to dressing for a MUN. Women can still decide to go with a suit (a tailleur, in French), but make sure that the skirt is not too short, and definitely wear a blouse or a button-down shirt underneath. Straight pants (here again, no jeans) and a blouse or a button-down are also a good option, and so is a skirt (although make sure it is not too short). Dresses are another possibility, although you need to make sure it is professional-looking. Where sleeveless blouses and dresses are concerned, however, make sure to wear a blazer to cover your shoulders. Not only does it look more professional, but you might also be more comfortable (indeed, it is always very cold in the St. Lawrence auditorium). Regarding shoes, you might want to wear nice flats or loafers, but if you want to go with heels, make sure they are not too high and that they are comfortable.

Colours

The Western business attire is not only about the clothes you wear: it is also about the colour of the clothes you wear. To keep it professional, keep it safe and stay with more neutral tones such as black, navy, grey, white and beige. They may not be the most interesting colours, but looking professional is not always about making a bold fashion statement. And there are certainly interesting pieces to be found with such colours, so do not worry about looking fade!

I want to finish by saying to try to keep your outfit comfortable. While you do want to look professional, you definitely do not want to spend your day in itchy or ill-fitting clothes. Begin your search for your ideal MUN outfit, and surely you will find a nice compromise between professionalism and comfort.

Good luck, delegates! See you in October!