What To Wear To MIPIM

What should you wear to MIPIM? Smart, lightweight tailoring that transitions easily from daytime meetings to evening networking, combined with comfortable shoes and versatile layers.

If you’re heading to MIPIM this year (or any year you might be reading this!) you already know it’s not just another conference. It’s a week of back-to-back meetings, chance encounters, presentations, dinners and networking from breakfast until late in the evening. Deals are discussed everywhere, sometimes in formal meeting rooms, sometimes standing on a terrace with a coffee or even on a yacht at sunset.

I’ve been dressing professionals in the property, legal and finance sectors for over two decades and every year I hear the same thing from clients who attend MIPIM: “I never quite know what to pack.” The challenge isn’t just looking smart - it’s packing minimally while still being prepared for everything the week throws at you.

This guide is designed to help you do exactly that.

Why What You Wear Matters More Than You Think

The thing I hear year after year is that MIPIM is intense. Everyone is busy, everyone is tired and everyone is making quick decisions about who they want to spend time with or get the attention of. First impressions aren’t just important, they’re accelerated.

You don’t need to be the best dressed person in Cannes, but you do need to look like someone who is organised, credible and comfortable in their own skin. When your clothing fits properly and works for the environment, you carry yourself differently. People notice, even if they couldn’t tell you why.

Understand The Reality Of The Week

Before thinking about outfits it really helps to think about the environment.

You’ll be walking A LOT! You’ll move between indoor and outdoor areas constantly. Mornings can be cool, afternoons very warm in the sun and evenings cooler again, especially near the water. Days are long and trust me, your schedule is rarely going to go exactly to plan.

Clothing that works at 9am needs to still work at 6pm and ideally at 9pm too, and that’s the real challenge.

Travel Day: Smart But Comfortable

There’s absolutely no need to travel in a full suit unless you’re heading straight into a meeting from the airport when you arrive in Cannes. A smart pair of trousers, a shirt or knit and a lightweight jacket is usually perfect. You want to arrive looking put together, not creased, crumpled and exhausted from sitting in stiff clothing for hours.

Shoes really matter here. If your shoes aren’t comfortable in an airport, they won’t be comfortable in Cannes!

Daytime At MIPIM: The Sweet Spot

During the day most professionals at MIPIM are dressed in business or business-casual. Suits are common (because let’s face it a suit is not only the easiest thing to throw on but it guarantees you are never under-dressed!), but they don’t have to be heavy or overly formal. Lighter fabrics, softer construction and colours beyond the standard dark navy can work very well. This is Cannes after all!

A jacket and trouser combination is often the most versatile choice. It allows you to look sharp and considered without feeling overdressed, and it adapts easily if the temperature rises.

Shirts should be breathable and comfortable. An open collar is perfectly acceptable in many settings, though it’s wise to have a tie available if you’re presenting or attending more formal meetings.

One thing worth mentioning. When everyone defaults to the same dark suit and white shirt, they tend to blend into the background. Subtle individuality through texture, colour and fit helps you to make a impactful first impression and ensure people remember you.

Not flashy - just considered.

Evenings, Dinners and Events

Evenings at MIPIM can vary widely. Some are relaxed networking drinks, others are formal dinners or hosted events. The best thing you can do is build flexibility into your daytime outfit.

A different shirt, a tie or simply polishing up your look can be enough to transition from day to evening. If you’ve packed thoughtfully, you shouldn’t need an entirely separate wardrobe for the evenings.

The key is versatility, not volume.

Shoes, Outerwear And The Details Most People Forget

This is where so many people get caught out.

You re going to walk far more than you expect. Whatever shoes you take with you need to be properly comfortable. Stylish but uncomfortable shoes become a problem very quickly.

A lightweight coat or raincoat is also a must to take with you. Even if you don’t need it every day, you’ll be grateful you brought it when the weather changes or an evening runs much later than planned.

A good bag matters too. Something smart enough for meetings but practical enough to carry what you need without looking like you’re heading on a weekend camping trip.

The Most Common Mistakes

Overpacking is the BIG one. People take far too much with them and then end up wearing the same two outfits for the whole week anyway.

The opposite mistake is under-preparing and then realising halfway through the week that nothing quite works or you just completely brought the wrong stuff with you.

Heavy suits are another frequent mistake. March in Cannes isn’t summer, but it’s definitely not February in London either. Breathable fabrics make a massive difference.

And then there’s fit. A badly fitting jacket, trousers, shirt and/or suit will undermine your look, even if it’s the most expensive big luxury brand label outfit. Your clothes should move with you, not fight against you or look like THEY are wearing YOU.

How To Pack Smartly

When preparing and packing you must think in combinations rather than outfits.

Two jackets that work with two or three different pairs of trousers can give you multiple looks without filling your suitcase. Shirts and accessories can change the look and feel of an outfit really quickly. Neutral colours and complementary tones make everything easier.

When clients ask me what the real skill is in dressing for MIPIM, I tell them it’s this: being able to pack lightly while still being ready for everything and anything!

That balance is what separates the pro MIPIM attendee from the Rookie.

Remember What MIPIM Is All About

MIPIM isn’t a massive jolly (ok ok for some people it is) - but for serious business people it’s ultimately about relationships. People remember how you made them feel, how confident you appeared and whether you looked like someone they could trust to do business with.

What you wear isn’t everything, but it plays a much bigger role than most people realise.

At Roberto Revilla London we’ve been helping professionals in property, finance and law prepare for events like this for over twenty years. If you’re planning ahead for MIPIM and want to build a wardrobe that works effortlessly in environments like this, it’s worth starting the process well in advance so everything is ready when you need it.

And if this guide helped you think differently about how you prepare, then it’s already done its job!