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Help me with my outfits: Writersfest Day 1 Pic heavy

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hope you will all indulge me here. This week is the Kingston WritersFest. I'm on the planning committee and heavily involved with the festival and will be appearing at a number of events. (http://www.kingstonwritersfest.com)

Overall, I'd like to present a sort of "creative professional" vibe. Relaxed, youthful, but put-together. So far, the weather is supposed to be mid-range temperatures—high teens in the daytime, low teens in the evening.

Thursday is the first day. I am moderating a discussion with two authors of young adult fiction. The event is in the morning and the audience will be quite large, consisting of mainly high school students and teachers. I will also be hosting another event in the afternoon.

Here is my idea for what to wear. My perfect jean jacket has not yet appeared; I tried the one that Nancylee tried but they don't have it in my size. So I went thrifting and I found two not-perfect-but-okay jackets. I was thinking of wearing one of these.

The blue one is not cropped, but it is a really nice fabric with some stretch to it, and I love the silver buttons. (Bonus: the ticket I found in the pocket: "An evening with Elton John, 2006). It's super comfortable.

I've tried it with a belt and without. Could try a different belt, perhaps.

The raspberry jacket is a cropped cord one from Old Navy, 2005. Nice colour. But I don't have any accessories that work with the dull gold buttons and I also wondered if the contrast with the black was too much. Suggestions? I do have time to make ONE shopping trip before the festival, and could perhaps come up with something new. (I mean new accessories. I can't afford the time or money to buy a whole new outfit right now).

Either way, do I need hose? If so, what kind would be best?

And the evening is the official opening party. Drinks, speeches, and then reading and discussion with J.M. Coetzee and Paul Auster.

My plan for that is my autumn leaf skirt. I will probably have to wear the pumps here rather than my nude sandals. Pumps are actually a very very dark red, not brown or black as they may appear.

The belt is WAY too big for me now. Should I buy a new one or style with sash as in the summer picture challenge? And would some better big pearls be a good idea? These ones are junk, just put on to show the idea. I saw some nicer gold toned ones like Angie's the other day that I might spring for.

Comments and suggestions welcome, and thank you for looking. I hope the darn pictures are not too tiny to see anything! Will do better next time.

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Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Anonymous

I wish I could come hear you speak! Your conference sounds like so much fun!

Ok, ahem. The clothes. I like the blue denim jacket if you wear a belt with the dress, that way, we don't lose sight of where your waist is with the longer jacket.

I like the length of the red one, and you can ignore the buttons or mix your metals. If they bother you that much, you can paint them with silver nail polish. (At your own risk, to be sure!)

The autumn skirt in photo 8 is my favorite. I think there is no belt and I like the dark shoes and the pearls are your ticket. They frame your face beautifully! If you can find some shorter ones you will be all set. I like the creamy ones you have with your complexion. I'm not sure if the gold ones would look as well, but you seem to look amazing in everything!

How many sizes have you lost? That belt is HUGE. Must be a fun problem to have.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Hi Suz, my vote is #4-5 with a necklace & belt as you've done with the other jacket. No hose. It doesn't have to match the buttons--mixed metals is OK. Denim is OK on you, but it seems a bit too casual to me. You want to stand out a bit if you are speaking, I think. Make it easier for the audience to see you. And I also vote for #9, I love how the sash gives it a pop of color and plus raspberry is a trendy color right now. Otherwise it looks too staid. Plus the color of the jacket and sash will tie together both events and I kind of like the symmetry in that. Good luck! And congrats on the weight loss!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Claire.

Re the red jacket: I don't mind the colour of those buttons; I just don't have any necklaces or belts that go with, and somehow it feels bare without something else, you know? I do have earrings that will work with it. A scarf would be another idea, but I don't have.

I have lost over 30 pounds. I was wearing a 10 in jeans and now it depends - anything from a 00 to a 4, depending on make.

I do have some shorter pearls, but not big ones. So I might spring for some; it's a worthwhile investment since I like them enough to wear often, and I saw some at the Bay when I bought my coat.

Thanks so much for your astute thoughts!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Hi Suz, I really like the red jacket! I think if you are planning to wear this with the boots you'll need hose - maybe just sheer black hose. Agree you need some accessories with this; I would ignore the button color and just go with what you have that works with the rest of the outfit.

The blue one is very pretty - a nice color and nice looking. But, I think the length of it is better suited to pants. I don't mind it with the dress...but I prefer the pink one.

The skirt is very pretty. I like it with the "sash" but would prefer a darker colored one for evening.

Hope that helps! You look lovely. (-:

Elly

Veteran

I like the red jacket and the blue as well-- I agree it is better with pants but I think the belt saves it. Could you wear the tweed jacket over the dress since you will be wearing it differently on another day? People that travel do it all the time, so I suppose you could too. Or perhaps you have a sweater or cardi? Do you have a friend you might pop in on and borrow a scarf from (or even perhaps something more if they are a similar size?)

I think the fall skirt is beautiful, but I am a bit worried about the front. Is there a reason it is hanging bunchy? It almost makes it seem big.

celia

Veteran

You are so pretty.
The raspberry jacket is my favourite.The denim one is too long for dresses.
The other outfit I would actually prefer it without any belt.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Re the autumn leaves skirt: I will have to wear some sort of a belt or sash because otherwise it will twist round. It still fits me (just) but it on the verge of too big.

Elly, it has deliberate asymetrical pleating. It isn't falling quite right in those photos because I was rushed, but it's intended to look that way.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I prefer the dress with the red jacket: the denim one is too long IMO. Mixing metals is in style now so don't fuss much about those buttons. I don't mind bare legs with boots in general but if contrast with black ones feel too strong you can try sheer hose. I usually go for patterned sheers as they add more interest: if you do not have those The Bay has some selection and so does Winners.
This is a great outfit with the skirt. I prefer it in #7.

Deborah

Veteran

Hi Suz, you are so gorgeous that everything looks good on you.

I was just looking at your other post so will head back there shortly. I like 3... It creates a nice long line to my eye. 4 and 5 look amazing that colour is fabulous on you. I like 7 with the fitted belt. Now over to your next post

lyn67

Veteran

I vote the first one! I think your young audience will be more attracted to a denim jacket of a classic wash. That paired with the black shift dress (belted) and the equestrian boots bring the fashion edge, too. Go without hose if have some tan.

lyn67

Veteran

...but I like the outfit with the red jacket, too:-)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting; opinions on that denim jacket differ a bit. That is perfectly consistent with my own sense of things as I looked in the mirror. At some moments I liked it, and at others I felt the proportion was just wrong. Which is why I posted pics.

I am wondering now if a wider belt might do the trick. I picked up something the other day that might work but I need to have some new holes made in it before I can try. It's a soft slate grey with silver hardware...would barely contrast with both jacket and dress but offer a bit of silver, too.

I even thought of belting the jacket on TOP. It's comfortable enough to wear that way I think. But it looked a bit odd to me.

IRL I don't like the high contrast of the black and raspberry on me; I think the cropped cord jacket would look a lot better with a little NAVY dress (if I had such a thing, which I don't) or maybe charcoal. The black feels just too harsh. But a scarf might soften things enough.

Okay - back to the drawing board on this one, and off to get a better fitting belt or more subdued sash for the leaf print skirt!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Wow! Wow! I am totally in love with your autumnal skirt and how you have styled it with so much taste. Each belt option give it a different look. The belt in 6 is not too big to my eye, just a different look; however with this specific belt, I would wear a longer cardigan. In 9, the pink highlights your perfect waist and add an element of funk to the classical look. I say go for it!
And on the subject of pink: I personally adore the raspberry jacket and how you styled it, like this on its own but collar up. I wouldn't add anything.

Suz, are you a writer?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Krishnadoux! That autumnal skirt is one of my biggest splurges ever. It's a Comrags skirt from 3 years ago, Gunhouse and Cornish, you know? http://www.comrags.com

The "sash" is actually a red silk scarf. True red in this case, not raspberry. I would never have thought to put it with this skirt except for Bella's picture perfect challenge.

I am a writer, yes. My first book was a book of personal essays...really, a memoir in essays, called Pathologies: A Life in Essays. I also write poetry and fiction and now am writing a novel.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I vote red jacket and possibly add a belt.. You could add a cuff bracelet as well.
Love the last version of the fall skirt!

anne

Veteran

I like #3, 4 and love the sash on the last one

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suz, how fun.

I'm cutting straight to the chase with the denim blue jacket. It is too long and ill fitting. Please pass on straight away :(. Sorry about being a mare, but we have to keep stunning you looking stunning, and only the best will do.

The red jacket on the other hand is absolutely sensational. Outfits #4 and #5 are KILLER. Wow!!

Loving outfit #7 if you can find a belt to fit. Very lady-like and on trend! Great dark red pumps.

Sowmya

Love the red jacket!!

But you had me at JM Coetzee!!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. I will pass the denim jacket along to my daughter, who will love it. (She is eleven and not interested in fashion. It will fit her tomboy look.

And I'll go in search of a scarf or something to make the red jacket/black dress combo a little less harsh. It doesn't look too bad in the photos but in real life it's a bit much for me, I feel. So I'll see what I can do to soften it a bit.