I love 1 and 6 with no particular preference as both look amazing on you. Personally I don't think very similar to normal is out for an early evening reading but I am not the author giving the reading...

Suz: 3/4 is my favorite for the event, but I love #2 as well. Either way you'll shine.

Love, love #2, looks classy yet edgy. Good luck and have fun!!

Suz, I'm so sorry for your Siebels... mine don't do that! And I wore them last year continuously for 2 months in rainy BC.

I like 3-4 the best for the event you describe. The sequin adds fun sparkle, just in line with an evening event. Arm candy there brings it just at another level.

5 is good too but the sequin debardeur looks too long there. It falls lower, elongating the torso. Maybe with a belt?

1 is too casual.

2 is too scholar.

6 is awesome, but too formal.

7-12 is also stunning, but too much day presentation. My faves in there are 10-11.

13 is also very cool and worth considering. Hhhmm... it appeals to me because it is so fashion forward yet naughty, in a Coeur-de-pirate kind of way. All you need now is an arm tattoo! (Joking). You look ravishing: every element here work together to create the look, from the pearls to the rolled sleeves and collar turned up to the booties.

But considering it's winter and that Christmas is approaching, I would go for the sequin outfit. Just because pic 13 seems so perfect, putting a winter coat over it would kill the look. This requires a cropped jacket. And since you'll be in and out, you should really plan your outerwear as well.

A lot of interesting options, Suz! I think the sequined top/navy shirt works very well - not too formal, and not too casual either. Pants or skirt with this is equally good to my eye. I also like the lace/white shirt combination - and I don't think leopard pumps with it is funny at all! The bottom line is: People are there to hear you read, and to be with you in good company. Of course you want to look good for the occasion(s), and rest assured - you really do. You already have a lot of appropriate outfits here, and I'm sure everybody will find you at least as stylish and well put together as we do. No need to go shopping, just "stay calm and dress on".

I like #2, #4, and #10 for your event. You will look lovely regardless, you ALWAYS do? I do think the layering insight will be helpful going forward, of course.

Is there any outfit you can wear that you can envision yourself "forgetting" once you are at the venue, reading, and off to dinner? Somehow, I suspect your psychic comfort level will be of paramount importance and once you are dressed in something in which can forget what you are wearing you will shine!

Thanks again, everyone. I have taken all your thoughts to heart and rest assured I value them.

This has really been interesting for me. The fact that there is no clear winner confirms my own sense of confusion at what I was looking at in the mirror. Lots of "okays" but nothing that says "YAY!!!!"

And maybe that's to be expected; this is in its own way a really difficult situation to dress for. Weather, two different evening events in one, plus it has to go in a small carry on size suitcase with all my other stuff....yeah.

Well, I have an hour more to consider this and then I must pack and leave. Still undecided. In the end I may choose something completely different. Maybe I will just tuck my jeans into some tall boots. Which would be great for the rain, but not so great for the dinner out.

If I had a leather moto, I'd be in business....too bad the one from Zara didn't work.

Kat, we posted at the same time. You are absolutely right. Psyhic comfort is of the utmost importance at these events, no matter how short or small the reading....it is much more important than for any other kind of event (for me). If I am wearing something that I *feel* is great, then I'm confident and easy and it goes smoothly. If I'm wearing clothes that are fussy, don't feel like me, seem totally wrong for the venue, etc. then I am uncomfortable.

One thing that does NOT bother me is dressing differently than the other participants (when it is a group). I don't care a bit about that. It's to do with my own feeling of having hit the right style note for myself.

I didn't read any other answers first so...
Nearly all of these look great but to be picky, I don't love the lacy overlaw with and white blouse and black skirt (seems a little "uniform" like to me).

From what you described I like #1, #5 or the last outfit best. I feel like the black pencil skirt is a bit more "professional" so I lean away from those outfits for this event.

I love 2, 3/4 and 10. If I saw you in any of these outfits at your reading, I would think laid back, quirky, fun in a very stylish way. Hope this helps.

I like #3 and #4 best - but with the animal print pumps.

I like #2 next. Both those looks are 11 out of 10!

But ALL the outfits are amazing, Suz. Well done!

Have not read the comments. Which outfit are you going with?

Suz, that's seriously a lot of arresting options. It's so much that I'm literally nitpicking to pick (like eliminating the lace blouse because I want the back view to be better still on you...though there's absolutely nothing wrong with it!).

I liked #2 best --- stunning, the moment I opened it --- but I can understand the reservations over wearing a skirt in the cold. That's why I am passing #3-4 as well, and preferring #5 --- but then I can't see the proportion issue others see there; it looks great to me and your legs look lovely and long.

I do have a soft spot for #6, as you might imagine --- that colour on you! --- but after thinking about the venue(s), I am more inclined to back #5.

I know this hasn't been easy, with no clear winners. But that's down to the fact that we're all nitpicking to do our best by you from a plethora of great options. Please go in all confidence that none of these looks let you down. At all. Not a smidge.

Wow, look at all these great outfits! I like 3-4 best (and you have given me a fresh idea about wearing a blouse or shirt under my sequin tank, love that). I love 6, also, but seems more dressy and formal.

Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate your thoughts. I am having an unfab day and feel lousy about my shape and all these options feel wrong. I hate my legs in booties, still. But temps are cold today and I would freeze in the pumps. I brought my DV smog booties and my Josef Siebels and will have to pick between those. I wish I liked the sparkly tank better. I am worried that ill need to fuss with it to keep the length proportionate.

Ah well. Not a big problem in the scheme of things I guess. I brought the n
makings of 2 and 3/4 with me, plus the pants. So I have options still. Thanks again.

I know you're not trying to blend in, rather, hit your own style not, but I strongly feel boots (taller better but booties are fine) are way more Kensington than pumps!
Honestly, I'm envious that you had so many good-to-great options. I also don't see the proportion issue with #5. You're a seriously hot tamale and I would put you at way younger than your age (which I think was mentioned somewhere on the forum a while back - I limited my googling!), yet always dressed beautifully & appropriately for ANY age, really.

Suz, I think you need a versatile, funky but classic short sleeves jacket in your wardrobe for such funky out-there events, which are part of your life. The idea is to wear long sleeves under it in winter, and have a choice, belt or no belt.

I imagine a little number like pic 5 here with a long sleeves print cotton tee (stripes, or one digitally retouched flower print, or black and grey...) your black skinny jeans and lace-up black booties, or heels. Or swap the long sleeves tee for a black turtle-neck.

Another great source of inspiration: check out Tina'a Arena many to-die-for outfits during "jam sessions" in this video: http://vimeo.com/29963465

A few examples:

I'm so late to the party and not even reading the comments like a good girl, but I vote for 2 and 9!