What would you wear for this event?

[unbuttonedowl]

I have been invited to interview someone at a festival. It will likely be hot on the day so it needs to be comfortable and cool. I am a size 12, about 162cm tall, aged 50.

Definitely well outside my comfort zone but a good opportunity and I know if I have the right clothes on it will make a difference.

I tend towards black trousers, boots and knits and the odd floral dress or shirt at work and a teenage boy look when at home (hoodie and tracksuit.)

Any suggestions welcome! TIA

Don't worry I am loving thinking about this, a nice distraction from everything else and really not a big deal - it's not until November so I have time to get it right & the good thing about book crowds is that they are lovely and just happy to listen to a conversation about writing.

the gold shoes were pretty fabulous, as was the flowy skirt. It was not her first rodeo, nor the author's.

I like this one from the website suggested by a pp

https://kemitelford.com/products/the-alara-marshmallow-linen-tie-dress

Good on a hot day!

If it's on a stage definitely go for trousers or a dress that is well over the knee. I organise a lot of stage panel discussions for work and I've lost count of how many times a beautiful outfit looks absolutely inappropriate when someone sits down on stage. Suddenly we see their knickers in full view or they sit uncomfortably trying to pull the skirt down. Or they've never learnt to sit properly so they sit with legs crossed or even apart,forgetting we can all see up there!

If it’s November then a lot of these dresses are completely inappropriate unless you live in the southern hemisphere!

You need to wait until the new autumn stock is available and look for a fabulous block coloured dress with some boots.

Oh my worst nightmare. This explains the long flowy skirt - excellent advice thank you.

These are absolutely stunning! I love the pale blue and white striped one but it's sold out.

This is suitably flowy and dramatic - but also sold out
https://kemitelford.com/products/rolls-royce-cotton-midi-skirt-structured-dutch-wax

what do you think of black trousers and a cotton traders top as you could wear the top for plenty of occasions.

Dramatic skirt - what about this @unbuttonedowl ? Comes in 2 colours.
www.next.co.uk/style/sv162387/y92838

These clothes will look very very odd in November.
Just wait a short time. The Autumn season clothes are starting to appear in the shops now.

That's a great dress.

A “writers’ festival” and “a festival” are poles apart @unbuttonedowl That might explain some of the responses you’ve had.

Indeed!! I'd assumed at first it was a music festival that had a few writers appearing at it.

@unbuttonedowl - is it because you're going to be on stage & under lights that you say it's likely to be hot? Or is it abroad? As November isn't usually known for its high temperatures in the UK ...

Also, several of the suggestions so far (including some of your own) are summery-looking & will look rather odd in November?

Youre not that short - 162cm is around 5' 4", is that right? What is your colouring? As I noticed that in your mention of that interviewer's outfit, you picked up on her golden hair & gold footwear? I always feel good in an outfit that is a great colour for me (though the shape/fabric/style etc are all important too). So that is what I would consider first (though I appreciate that not everyone cares that much about colours, just whether they like a clothing item or not).

Though I would, if you're going to wear pattern, keep it to the lower half. Better on screen too. I have a few Kemi Telford skirts & find them really good for my own (taller, larger) apple shape - as the waistband is tight enough to pull your middle in (not uncomfortably as it's deep!). Though they're probably more summery.

Depends on the kind of festival. When I do this sort of work (literature events) I have a dark grey linen/silk mix trouser suit - Donna Karen - the jacket is key - I can put it over anything and look bookish and put-together in a low key way. I wear it with a white T-shirt and white plimsolls.

But if it’s a music festival, you’d need a differe Style. And if it’s a knitting and sewing festival, then smart metropolitan is NOT what you want!

But unless you’re also a writer yourself, no one will really notice what you’re wearing. One’s job as an interviewer of artists is to draw them out. The focus on is on her, not you. And it’s your job to make that happen.

That’s why I wear something quiet.

I like floral party dresses (little house on prairie etc etc), but not for a professional gig!

Oh i LOVE the green one! Will work well with a black top, necklace and nice shoes.

I'm not in the UK so it will be hot in November. My colouring is fair with brown hair/blue eyes, I always feel good in green, pink, blue, grey and cream as well as florals and beautiful patterned fabrics. If I had the money I'd dress head to toe in Ulla Johnson/Doen/Isabel Marant.

Agree that patterns on my lower half is a good idea - that worked well the other night on the interviewer. What do you wear on your top half with the Kemi Telford skirts?

Yes it's a small weekend writers' festival so really fashion isn't necessarily that important, I just feel like looking good. I will also be reading work myself at a launch, possibly the day before, so it's a good excuse to buy some new summer clothes.

thank you all so much for these suggestions.

This suit sounds beautiful.... it's very much the look that the writer the other night was wearing so I wonder if she got it from you!

Although one year when I was invited to the Byron writers festival, it rained and rained, and in the end I just wore Wellingtons and a plastic poncho.

I like a lot of those labels too!

I've gone from being a well-paid design professional to a poor freelancer in the past few years. I've always enjoyed buying vintage & secondhand on eBay - but it's now a necessity as well as fun. You will find those labels at very good prices if you're willing to hunt for them!!

All my Kemi Telford skirts are from eBay btw - lots on there & Vinted right now ... I have bought other full skirts with elasticated waists - but they don't give me a waist or the same silhouette as one of hers!

I generally wear the skirts with a really simple well-cut T-shirt (I like the Whistles Rosa tee). I'll have fun with jewellery though - huge costume jewellery earrings! (I'm tall with lots of hair so need to size up with jewellery.) And I wear anything from coloured trainers or flat form sandals (in summer) to chunky metallic heels with coloured tights (in autumn/winter).

Have a look on her website as there are some good styling ideas for the skirts.

I think this would work well especially with your update it’s a writers festival. I was about to ask what festival as even music ones
differ a lot

Love these, gorgeous colours. Think this is perfect for a festival vibe

This is all so helpful, thank you. I know what you mean about enjoying buying vintage and secondhand - something about the hunt. Some of my best clothes are from a visit from my niece when all she wanted to do was go secondhand clothes shopping - she went through every single rack in every shop and once I started doing that I found some good stuff. I also love the Whistles Rosa T as well - I might go for that, a colourful skirt and some flatform sandals and then work on the jewellery and hair.

You will look great! One particular Kemi Telford skirt that I have brings me compliments from strangers every time I wear it!!

I dug out these particular photos from the website to give an idea of what I meant about accessorising/styling. Simple top, big earrings (&/or necklace or cuffs - avoid anything clanking or jangling though!), striking footwear (I really like the fishnet ankle socks, though I also like the plain mules).

Your niece sounds fun to shop with! Doing it physically - in charity & vintage shops or at fleamarkets etc - takes more perseverance. I used to be very good at it - less so with clothing now that I'm a 16, as the spoils are far fewer! Certainly with "proper" vintage, ie 30s-70s pieces as they tend to be in much smaller sizes.

Jewellery is still fun to look for though - I'm currently wearing some great coloured lucite/perspex rings that I forgot I had!

eBay, Etsy & other online vintage sellers opened up lots more to me though. And Vinted more recently. I LOVE the hunt ...!!!