I'm traveling to Mexico City in the next month or so to pitch a new conference/trade show in development, and will be recruiting an advisory panel during a meeting with some of the movers and shakers in the industry we're serving.
I'll be presenting information at a reception/dinner and networking afterward, and I'm not sure what the appropriate attire should be. I have this tailored Calvin Klein dress that I'm planning to wear with a skinny black patent belt, peep-toe pumps and a tailored jacket.
I've never done business outside of the U.S. before and just want to be sure I'm not making a misstep.
So is this cool? And if I have some business meetings the next day, are pants okay in a corporate atmosphere for women?
I've only been to Mexico City once and it was several years ago already (about 10 maybe?), but what struck me was how formal the business attire was. I was there for a trade show and the norm was full suits. At the time I was also struck by how few women I saw even out on the street in the business district where we were staying -- I took a short walk with a male co-worker and everywhere around me were men, with very few women.
It's possible things are different now, but based on my own experience, I'd err on the side of dressing in conservative business attire, probably a suit with skirt for both the evening and daytime meetings.
Just for the hell of it, I just Googled business attire in Mexico to see if things might have changed since I was there and every site I pulled up recommended formal business attire too.
I think trousers are okay as long as they are a trouser suit. That said, I would do very conservative as well: trouser suit or skirt suit (matching jacket and skirt or trousers). Your field may be less conservative, but my company is in pharmaceutical sales and this is how our reps dress when they go to Mexico City.
I have a friend whose husband travels to Mexico City for business often. He says it's very formal. I would think I would wear what I would consider to be interview attire here. Formal skirt suits.
I have a friend who does real estate in Mexico, and so I shot her an e-mail about this. She recommends wearing closed-toe shoes and sticking to suits, preferably skirt suits. She also said that, while your clothes ought to be very conservative/traditional, you can put a little bit of personality into your look with slightly less traditional accessories--that is, you don't have to stick to pearl studs or skip the nail polish. HTH!
Thanks, everyone -- this is all very helpful, although I'm very bummed I can't wear my peep toes, as they're brand new and an absolute steal from Marshalls.
I agree: more formal than here, and skip the trousers for ladies. It chafes my feminist side, but I'd be willing to cave rather than risk an important deal.
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I'm currently working in Latin America, and have to agree with all the PPs. Go with a skirt suit, closed-toed pumps, and hose to be perfectly safe. You have some room on the shirt/blouse - bright color there is fine and pretty much any style. Women tend to wear everything pretty tight, although I'm not convinced it's good if you want to be taken seriously. If you have a trouser suit in black or dark gray, that might also work. You'll "get away" with a bit because you are coming from the U.S.; I have some conservative pant suits that I wear here all the time, and frankly since I'm not trying to "pass," it works. If the corporate culture for your industry is less formal, then a trouser suit in dark colors will be fine.
Business attire for meeting in Mexico City?
