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

If you want to go big on the jewellery front, there are masses of chunky gold chain necklaces etc on Vinted.

Earrings-wise, although I have a lot of large/eye-catching pairs, the biggest & blingiest pair is from Zara several years ago. (They were much admired recently by one of my clients - he used to head up a rather famous European fashion house, so I was quite chuffed!)

I can't find the exact ones on eBay/Vinted - but these are of a similar ilk. Are they cheap & possibly a bit tacky? Yes. Do I care? No! They're very effective - & one of the other Kemi Telford skirts/dresses on the website is accessorised with the final pair of these Zara earrings, so ...

Two very stylish friends of mine often get gigs interviewing at festivals. One often wears cropped white jeans and a loose satin blouse in a block jewel colour. She always looks amazing. The other goes for the dark academia look with fine check neutral blouses and pinafore dresses. She too always looks great. Both in their fifties

@EleanorMc67 I really love those long floral earrings you posted. Are they for sale somewhere?

The first pair? Yes, these were all old season Zara earrings on eBay & Vinted - if you can use those platforms where you live? With Vinted you can do an image search too - just save that photo & put it in the search box.

Funnily enough, I can't find them by searching under Zara (gold floral/flower/long earrings), but an image search brings these up.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7076543351-earrings

On eBay though, these are the Zara ones I believe. Lots that look identical listed as "Zara style", which may well be exactly the same as they may just come from the same factory in China/wherever!

https://ebay.io/m/OUyilr

They were worn by Kate Middleton, so the factory might well have cashed in on this & continued manufacturing them for a while after their Zara contract. I am neither a royalist nor a great follower/admirer of royal style - but she looked great on that occasion & if she was happy to wear them to a prestigious event then I'm sure they're entirely suitable for a book festival!!

And these ones are in the States, if that is an easier order for you.

https://ebay.io/m/c8euY5

I’ve found a few nice things in Ro & Zo of late. M&S sell their stuff too.

You said that one colour you liked & felt good in was pink, @unbuttonedowl - this Kemi Telford skirt is on Vinted. Shades of pink, white, red/orange, plum.

I've provided a link to a better image than the Vinted ones here: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/shop/product/zoe-layered-maxi-skirt-11023728

This is it on Vinted. Pink isn't my colour, otherwise I would have nabbed it!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9135333707-kemi-telford-maxi-skirt

The matching top is also on Vinted ... in a small, but the seller says it would fit a medium. Not sure I'd wear both as the interviewer (though I would as the interviewee!), but maybe for another occasion ... I'd stick with a plain top - a white T-shirt probably.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7013077530-kemi-telford

Another pink/plum one on Vinted, that's still full price on the website.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9492868672-kemi-telford-yemisola-structured-cotton-bold-maxi-skirt

https://kemitelford.com/products/yemisola-structured-cotton-bold-maxi-skirt

That is such beautiful fabric (the maroon and pink one.) The pink skirt looks like it would fall really nicely with the frill at the bottom. I have been on ebay and there is quite a lot of her clothes on there too.... agree that a plain t-shirt on top would work well, I usually wear black skirt or trousers but getting very tired of that. Thank you!

Just had a look and Ro & Zo do have some really good summery clothes. Varied in style and some beautiful long skirts and matching tops. I like Maison 123 as well but they are better for knitwear and winter stuff - summer can be tricky.