ONA23 Lookbook

Outfit observations of a first-time attendee

I spent two months planning my outfits for ONA. 

As a student journalist and a first-time ONA attendee, I felt pressure to make a good impression. I knew the schedule would be packed with networking events where — as far as I was concerned — my outfit could make or break my chances at forming lasting connections. 

Immediately after I received confirmation in May that I had been accepted to the student newsroom, I opened Pinterest to start a new board, appropriately titled “ona” (all lowercase of course—for the aesthetic). 

Matching sets, button-up vests and wide-leg slacks populated my board over the next few weeks while I ruminated on how I wanted to look at this conference. By Aug. 22, after a three-hour trip to the mall and a handful of Depop packages, my outfits were planned and packed.

I was ready to walk the ONA runway.

“Business casual” is the ONA website’s suggestion for conference goers. Jeans and sneakers tend to be the uniform—convenient for journalists hiking up and down stairs and walking circles around the fifth floor of the Marriott hotel.

But “business casual” is notoriously vague, and how attendees chose to interpret ONA’s suggestion was as varied as you can imagine.

Evan Mackinder of News Revenue Hub checked-in to ONA decked out in a medium-wash “Canadian tuxedo.” His inspo was simple: convenience. 

“When I put on this outfit it was 4 a.m. in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I had to be on a plane at 6,” Mackinder said. The tones of his ensemble were dark neutrals, an intentional choice so that he could mix-and-match with the rest of his suitcase’s contents throughout the week.

Though many people chose simple lines and solid colors, not everyone stuck to the traditional business casual mold. Stephanie Mirah, the audience growth and engagement producer at PublicSource, caught my eye in a patterned midi skirt and a collared cream shirt. 

Mirah explained that she chose the skirt for conference day one because she hoped to make a positive first impression. “I have some very other basic neutral outfits that I’ll be wearing throughout the week that will not be a standout, so I was just like ‘you know what, go big, first day,’ ” she said.

She paired the skirt with a simple top to keep the look professional, and because neutrals go with everything (right?).

Flat shoes were popular on the midway. ONA’s Events and Membership Manager Lauren Anderson wore lavender Chuck Taylors one day, and a brand new pair of Pumas the next. Her shoes were as colorful as her clothes — reds, purples, blues. 

“I feel like the more color I have, I can be more bubbly and more personable,” Anderson said. Color means fun to me.”  

A pop of green led me to Kimberly O’Grady from FleishmanHillard. O’Grady layered a neon mock neck under a blue, striped button-up, matched with khaki pants and statement earrings. She, too, chose an out-of-the-norm color palette so she would feel positive throughout the day.

“It’s not the norm to go into an office setting 9-5, as it once was pre-pandemic,” O’Grady explained. “So working at home and working in office and I find that if I’m dressed, I’m going to be more awake and alert and a little more able to get my work done.”

I (definitely) spent too many hours contemplating my ONA lookbook. In a pre-conference student newsroom Zoom meeting, our mentors told us to make an effort with our outfits. While my newsroom peers have been showing up and showing out, it’s become clear that looks are not as important to conference life as I initially thought.

But don’t worry, I’ll still make an “ona 2” Pinterest board when August 2024 rolls around.