Thanks, all! lozz oz, you made me laugh by expressing the real reason I wanted to stand to read. Not only is it easer to project, but people would have seen the whole outfit!
Funny side note -- I must have got 10 compliiments on the little Sandwich jacket (an older item that I usually wear quite casuaully) and no comments on the skirt! Just goes to show you that sitting vs. standing makes a difference to how we are perceived.
Carla, you're dead right this is a workhorse item, even if it sounds like an oxymoron. I have a few of those, Statement workhorses are maybe my favourite kind of item! Usually for me, they are footwear or jackets/ coats. Once in a while, a top. But in this case, it's the skirt for sure.
CarolS -- it's the rare item that can be easily worn cross-seasonally and dressed way up or way down. Sneakers or casual sandals and a graphic tee and it's fine for a pub lunch with a friend or even a walk on the beach. Stompy boots and turtleneck and tights and leather jacket and it's great for fall. Little jacket and sparkles and it's festive for a night out. I have another version I'm going to wear to a dressy wedding in November, with pumps and a brocade top and tuxedo jacket. And for at home holiday wear, I've got a velvet shirt and/or a lace shirt.
Janet, I know, right? It was embarrassing, actually. The event itself was really strange -- 2 genre novelists (one historical, one romance) and two more literary writers (me and one other). It could conceivably have been fun and funny but for whatever reason (partly the COVID set up) the air in the room felt "dead." Luckily, we were joined by a well known local musician, whose work for me was the highlight. The young musician was the moderator so I think she might have felt awkward about cutting the writer off. It took her the full allotted time to get through her preamble!! And her preamble was awful and didactic. Ugh.
Sally, I didn't get to comment on your thread, but I love your tulle skirt on you! It's a fabulous pattern!
Tanya -- you get it! It's frustrating but I haven't found a solution yet, despite two full length mirrors!
Angie, thank you! It sure did feel good to dress up and wear real clothes to a real event!