June 5, 2013

I wrote this post last night and then it disappeared into the ether. Trying again and crossing fingers.

In Montreal I wore my slouchy distressed skinnies and my new Zara jacket for a reading in a 60s inspired café. Got some compliments on the jacket and it was easy to wear.

But now I have a busy weekend ahead, and some new sartorial challenges.

Friday

AM: Travel (train) and some brief shopping (returns)
PM: Gala for National Magazine Awards. Outfit here to be decided tomorrow (either the fuchsia pant suit or the Nicole Miller sheath.)

Saturday:

All day conference for paid job, including listening to others present, and giving a presentation as part of a panel. I'll probably be seated on a dais.

PM: Dinner with clients and colleagues in a fairly informal venue.

Sunday:

Daytime presentations at conference.
Interviewing four clients. (Video interviews, but I won't be on camera.)

PM: Dinner with colleagues at somewhat dressy venue.

Monday:

Daytime: More client interviews.

My main concerns:

What to wear for Saturday's presentation and dinner. I won't really be able to change because I am staying at some distance from the conference venue and won't have time to go back. (I can bring a tote for small switch-ups, however.)

Note: I work for a fitness/ nutrition company. My colleagues are young, many are sporty, and some will wear gear for much of the conference, while others will be quite casual. Clients will be in gear or casually dressed. They will dress up for dinner, however.

What to wear for Sunday's dinner. I could, perhaps, wear whichever outfit I do not wear to the gala, but I think that might be a bit formal for the situation.

Also, the weather is not really cooperating with me. It is going to be somewhat cooler than I might reasonably expect, and rainy some of the days.

Pic 1: Montreal reading WIW

Pic 2: Possible for presentation, with a topper of some kind. I could bring my tube skirt and maybe kimono to switch into for the evening supper?

Pics 3-6: Possibles for Sunday dinner? Are any of these okay? NOTE: I didn't own the gold shoes when these photos were taken; I could switch to those and switch up all accessories, of course.

Open to all suggestions.

Posted in the Dressing category

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

24 Comments

catgirl replied 10 years ago

I missed something... is this your big event for which you were going to don the fuchsia suit? I love #3 beyond belief, but am not sure it's as dressy as the suit. Or am I mixing up your events?
Suz replied 10 years ago

Mixing events, Una. I have a ton of them. The gala is Friday and I'll either wear the suit or my Nicole Miller sheath (will post tomorrow about that). This is a separate dinner on Sunday. Plus a presentation and dinner on Saturday.
catgirl replied 10 years ago

Oh, okay! Then I love #3. :) Not sure of gold shoes with it but would like to see them... You have great instincts so I don't see how you can go wrong here. Pants seem more comfortable for public seating to me but a longer skirt works too as long as it's flowy. I don't like to sit in pencil-type skirts for a long time.
Mona replied 10 years ago

I am so glad you enjoyed wearing the blue floral jacket. I vote #6 for Sunday dinner with gold shoes. Do you have a golden handbag/clutch too?
Joy replied 10 years ago

Suz, I love every one of these outfits. I gasped when I saw the fuchsia jacket tucked into your leaf skirt in #5. You can't go wrong.
pil replied 10 years ago

I'm not going to be any help because I love each and every one of these combinations! The pants in 2 are too casual for the informal dinner with a topper? Would 3 top and 4 bottom combine to be appropriate for both presentation and dinner?
Suz replied 10 years ago

Thanks, all -

Pil, the presentation in the afternoon should be pretty informal, I think. And I might be able to wear the jeans to the supper on Saturday night, or I could bring a tube skirt and pop it on instead. I need to check that venue to see how casual it is.

I guess -- for the presentation, I want to look: crisp, approachable, fit (since I'm supposed to be a spokesperson, ha!). I don't need to look corporate in any way, but I do want to look vaguely professional. If that makes any sense.

For the Sunday dinner, it's a dressier occasion (but not as dressy as the gala on Friday). Restaurant is a top tourist destination that is also supposed to have good food (although one has to wonder).

Joy, I knew I could trust you to like the most eclectic combo! :-)

Mona, I do have gold clutch plus gold shoes and I could wear different jewellery for sure to go with that. I could also wear the kimono or a regular black jacket over top if it is cool.
Sona replied 10 years ago

I think 3 or 6 with the fuchsia silk topper is your best bet for middle of the line business casual/dressy but not formal. I think the flowery skirt in 4/5 would be too formal for sitting on the dais for the first part of the day.
4/5 reminds me very much of the first lady and her style + job requirements so to speak require her to be more formal.
jurocha replied 10 years ago

Although all the options you've put together for dinner are gorgeous, I am going to stay true to my love-in-the-first-sight. PINK SUIT! <3 Either as seen on option 3 or on top of option 6. But Pink Suit (Blazer) FTW: no doubt about it.
rachylou replied 10 years ago

I love #4, absolutely my fave. But after considering all you've said, I'd go with #5 or 6 for the dinner day (which are pretty close behind).

I wouldn't do #3 because it seems like all statement pieces in one basket. I.e., it's ALGO and to me detracts from your natural polish.
Suz replied 10 years ago

Thanks, everyone. I think maybe I wasn't clear enough in my long and rambling introduction.

Here's what I need:

1 fairly casual day to dinner outfit, that should be "presentation ready" for a casual audience.

1 dressier dinner outfit (for a different day).

I already have the gala outfit (different night).

I also need several more casual outfits for daytimes, but I think I can figure those out myself. I hope!
Jules replied 10 years ago

I like #6 for the dinner, it is subtly gorgeous, understated and unfussy... which I think works for the occasion/company.
Nice to see the Paragraphe poster, I worked there... almost 20 years ago now!
nancylee replied 10 years ago

Suz, it's so fun to see a pic of you reading! You look fabulous in your jacket. I'm sure the audience loved you. :)

As for this weekend, I'm really liking the idea of the VC tube skirt with the kimono for Saturday's events. It would be comfortable, and you would look professional but approachable. Neat and hip, but not too corporate. And the look would move easily into the dinner that night.

I'm kind of in love with #5 for the Sunday night dinner, although any of the options you've shown would be appropriate...and even smashing. If you wore #6 look and also wore the VC skirt on Saturday you'd save room in your suitcase!

Just throwing in that I vote for the NM dress for the gala. You look fab in that blue.
Carole replied 10 years ago

I love your presentation WIW and how you are putting your Kimono to work. 2 seems like a great outfit base and could be dressed up nicely with a kimono or other jacket and perhaps a dressier heel but the wedges look good for a casual evening. All of the dressier outfits are stunning but if I could only pick I vote 3 or 6 for the gala evening (just couldn't pick one:)
Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

#3 & #6 are my picks - the others are lovely but these seem more on trend which should work with your younger colleagues :)
Sveta replied 10 years ago

Girl, you have one busy and long weekend ahead of you!
Woo-hoo for taking Chinese print jacket for a ride in Montreal! Looking sharp.
LOVE #3 for Sunday dinner! these shoes totally work, need to see with gold.
Presentation outfit looks good if the setting is casual. If dinner is informal you can add a dressier topper and change for dressier shoes but leave white pants and shell as is.
Angie replied 10 years ago

I thought you were set on the sheath for the Gala! Second thoughts or did I miss something?

You rock that new floral blazer like it was made for you. :)

First of all, ALL outfits are k-word worthy, Suz!

Can you pop a denim jacket over #3 for the presentation seeing as it's casual - and sport the fuchsia jacket at night for the dinner.

For Sunday, I vote either #4 or #6 - although #6 will be very naked if it's cold.
unfrumped replied 10 years ago

#3 just has to get worn! You are still way more of a skirt person than I but I would think the pants would be great for moving about and interviewing and then add some sparkle for evening. When you're mostly at a restaurant for dinner the focus is from the tablecloth up anyway.
#2 is quite cute but very casual to me, like beach resort--is that how your panel persona should be? Maybe so for the young and sporty demographic that you describe.
Suz, it is just hard for you to go wrong here! All are so fab.
Jaime replied 10 years ago

Suz, I am apparently not awake enough to follow your schedule, but I am very impressed that you don't just understand it but will actually carry it out. But I have comments anyway! First of all, I love your "action" shot. You look even more gorgeous than your still shots, unbelievably. And a good reminder that our WIWs are really only part of the reality of how we look.

As for the outfits, for the fitness conference I love #6 because, frankly, you want to show off your muscle tone a bit for that right? But it might be cold. So I will just say I love #6 and #3 and you look great every which way.
Karie replied 10 years ago

I love, love, LOVE #3! Are those the Leith pants? I vote wear them for the presentation - dinner. For Sunday, #4 or #5 - that skirt is gorgeous!
jenanded replied 10 years ago

Suz I love 3 5 6... so pretty and its wonderful to have a chance to dress up at a conference in a big city hotel... Funny, but I would have thought the white jeans outfit too casual except for conference Sunday even though it looks smashing. So I am no real help except to say the lace and purple jacket would be better placed for the dinner but the fuschia jkt could come out of the tote for the occassion and a daytime jkt over lace would be fine... have fun!
Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

All these looks are amazing, Suz! It's great to see a picture of you "performing!" I'm very fond of #3 -- I think it's festive and appropriately youthful, which might be nice when you're in the fitness/nutrition industry. I think #2 which a denim jacket sounds great, and I think either Angie's suggestion of switching into the fuchsia jacket is a marvelous idea, although the VC skirt/Kimono combo is tickling my fancy, too!
CocoLion replied 10 years ago

Wow, all I can say is you are leading such a glamorous life! I love all of your festive outfits. As for the panel, I think the shell and tote bag with white jeans are brilliant. I am craving your gold pumps however. Unless your feet will totally be hidden, then it doesn't much matter. Even though the occasion is casual, I just think the pumps would add that extra bit of polish. You do want to project some authority, I think.
unfrumped replied 10 years ago

Ack it ate my reply yesterday and I didn't realize it.
So you are probably packed and out the door.
You should wear the dress I think since you could use parts of the fuchsia for the other events.
I LOVE #3 for presentation, dressed up and down for dinner.
To me the outfit #2 is very casual but maybe is okay for the demographic at your conference? I didn't know if you needed more "presence" for your panel gig.
Everything is so splendid, you really can't go wrong.

Pix-Elated

WIW and WTW?: Busy weekend ahead

24 Comments

You need to be logged in to comment

Categories

Blogroll

Archives

About