Look smart to be smart

Is it wrong that I've probably spent more time today looking for an outfit for my presentation at an international conference than I have actually writing it?

I hate public speaking but I just need to suck it up and do it. At least the conference is in the champagne region of France so I can drown my sorrows if I completely flub it.

Perhaps inspired by the fact that it is in France, I spent this morning trying to find a dress a la Mme Sarkozy. I thought she looked absolutely lovely in this dress.



Marks and Spencer actually had quite a few reasonably priced shift dresses.




Unfortunately they either didn't fit or they didn't have my size at our local store.

I did buy these rather lovely black court shoes though.



I am not very good in heels on cobblestones so if Reims is rather cobbly, I may just walk to the conference in flats and change into these. I'm attending the conference with all three of my male colleagues and my male boss and I love that I'm taller than them all when I'm in heels. (I really do think the majority of them suffer from short man syndrome).

Anywhoo, I did manage to find a black suit jacket and matching skirt at the store where I pretty much get all my clothes - H&M. Neither were all that expensive and I may wear the jacket as a coat when Lee and I meet up in Paris.

Yep, the hubs is meeting me in Paris for a quick weekend break after the conference! Needless to say, I'm VERY much looking forward to that part of the trip. We've bought the TimeOut guide to Paris and I've been scouring lots of blogs for inspiration on where to go and what to see.

I should go start to practice my presentation. I've realized over the past few years that I am someone that needs to practice over and over and cannot simply 'wing it' when under pressure (especially in front of a room full of academics).