I've got to go pick up the groceries and then I'll try them on after I shower. The second top and the long skirt are about $140 together so if I don't like them, I will return them. The black dress wound up being $19.50 on clearance, so that's a keeper.

All right, here we go. I need your feedback. Still need to get some shoes that can work with my injured toe. Maybe by friday I can wear a closed shoe comfortably. ?? As I mentioned DH is no real help and I'm not going to call MIL over. It seems the skirt and the looser blouse (it is lined) are the least flattering. UGH. The first one with the wrap are the pants.

I'm not a fan of the scarf. I would use it as a shawl if you are cold. It looks like you are trying to hide. It is pretty though and does match.

I like the blouse and skirt. I don't tuck anything in so I prefer the blouse out.

The new dress is flattering. And, your original one is nice.

Wow, the pants look like a skirt. Maybe pose differently?

Shoes will pull it all together. Even if you get flat sandals.

What happened with the other blouse.

Thanks. I have no idea how to use scarfs. I need to see some Youtube tutorials.

I like the first dress best.. I think the dressy pants could work too -- and they'd be great with a dressy sandal. Unfortunately, I think the pants need an airy flowy top.

The black dress is flattering-- but not really something I'd recommend for June.

Where is the conference-- is it a warm location?

It's Minneapolis, but it's supposed to be between 85-90 all week. Ugh. Of course, all the rooms are usually highly air conditioned.

Yeah, the tops were just very limited. I can also maybe try another tore.

Do you have a dressy tank? I think a tank and an eye-catching necklace with the wide leg pants and strappy sandals would be great..

A black tank with the scarf worn a little more... loose and carefree would work too. Again, strappy sandals.

I really think the key to wide leg pants is to wear them in that elegant, lounge-y way.

Yeah, the black dress with the flowers was a great find--super flattering on.

No, I don't have any dressy tanks other than one silver sequined one I wear at the holidays. It's also a little smaller.

I think the first dress is the most flattering.

I like your “old” black dress with the flowers best. I like the scarf, but not with that blouse. Don’t much care for that blouse. If you have a top with a simple cut, that scarf would look fab. The new black dress would be my second choice, after your original dress with the flowers.

We need to see the top without the scarf. It's really a shawl and shouldn't be used in the way you are showing.

I agree about your standby being the favorite, but keep the new one for more cool weather events.

As we all know, it is difficult finding things when we need them.

I've got to go back to the mall to find appropriate open toed strappy sandals that are not high, so I will see if I can find a black long tank. That way I can use the scarf as a shawl. It's pretty big--about 4' square.

Definitely the first dress. I think the cut looks super flattering on you. Then the second dress. It shows off your legs!

I don't think you want a long tank or top. I think it's hard to carry the long top and wide leg pant look unless you are very tall and very lean-- and even then it can turn potato sacky.

Some of these are too casual, so you'll have to extrapolate-- I'd keep it simple and add a great necklace and bag..

I am not proposing you show your midriff lol.. but a black top like this halter style that goes past your belly button would be lovely-- formal enough, easy to wear and cool in the 90 deg temps.

I agree with others about the use of the pashmina- I was expecting it to be draped like a shawl rather than covering up the tops. I'd like to see pics without the pashmina or used like a shawl too. And the second top untucked with the skirt and pants.

That said. Though I do like the straight flow of the pants better, the peplum of the first top works better with the line of the skirt. The hip point where the top hits is great. If the second top is much longer, and from the look of the pics of them hanging I suspect this is the case, it might fall a bit low to look right untucked.

Your old dress is lovely, and looks great. Pack it for the trip. The new dress looks smashing, but I think would be better for cooler weather events as well.

Yeah, the other top is too large and looks sloppy untucked. Here are the photos. In least at looking at tops today I have photos of the pants/skirt. I do NOT have the Spanx on these photos. GAH! This is all so depressing!

I like the last pic best. That was was I was more expecting to see. The pashmina breaks up the waist nicely, and has the right drape around your arms. If you decide that's the look and since you aren't so familiar with using a shawl... mess a bit with how comfortable you are wearing it.

Depending on how that top goes on. Since I didn't see a back closure I'm assuming a hidden zipper in the left side? If you plan on wearing the pashmina all night, you could mess with the back drape of it and pin it into place to keep it affixed to your back. This leaves your arms free with the draping without having to adjust your whole shawl often. And handy in the bathroom to just let it slide off your arms while washing your hands :) Only do this if you are comfortable poking pin holes in your stuff- not everyone is ok with it. And be sure to unpin it again after the evening.

Without the pashmina, I think I like the pants flow better with the second pics. Just a little bit more than the skirt, but not by much.

When you put, say, the black and white dress on and then the pants, top, shawl, how do you feel? Any difference?

IMO, the dress looks so much more spiffy. What about the blue, black, white dress? You could dress it up with some jewelry, cute shoes/sandals.

Thanks, everyone. I like how I look in the B&W dress but overall I hate wearing dresses. The blue and black one, after putting it back on, does not lay correctly in the shoulders and really could use some tailoring to make it fit better, so I don't feel comfortable taking that. It fits in the body but it is too big in the shoulders and doesn't drape correctly. I've found a seamstress on Nextdoor who did my Halloween costume, so I can have her work on that, but not in time for my trip.

So, I need outfits for the opening reception and the dinner. I am thinking dress for the reception with the shawl or else I have a black shrug and then pants for the dinner.

Yes, there is a side zipper in the pink cold shoulder top but it goes on very easily.

I'm definitely keeping the pants but thinking about keeping the skirt, too. I will return the larger pink top for sure.

Ohhhh, you have a black shrug too?

Just a knit/crochet one. You mean for the dress, right?

Thanks, everyone, I appreciate this.

The last picture is nice with the pants, cold-shoulder top and shawl worn as a shawl.

I have no idea how this would look on you, but you could try the shawl with the pant/top combo like in this picture.

I'm late to this party and you're getting good advice, but I have to add that I don't think either of those pink tops are the right color for you. They are too close in tone to your skin color. Not sure what other colors you like to wear, but I don't think that mauvey pink is a good one for you. Maybe the wrap with a different color top? Black, white?

An aqua top? (Kind of like your wall color?)

Or black with some sparkle?

My 2 cents- I like the cold shoulder top with either the pants or the skirt. The shawl is pretty too.

Yay, I found a black and gold top at White House Black Market. Here are shoes I found. Although my toe feels much better, it is still really hard to find a pair of shoes that don't bother it. Time to finish packing!

I really like the White House/Black Market. I like the shoes!

I agree about the loose top.

I think I like the idea of black with black.

I think the cold shoulder top would look cute with a pair of fitted slacks.

Are you near a Nordstrom's? I think they have a personal shopper service for free?

Or, at least they used to.

Do you have an Anne Taylor?

Those are both really great finds! That top will look great with your Pashmina as a shawl.

Pretty top! And shoes too. I think you have good option now, with the black/gold top with black pants or skirt with those shoes one day and your dress with flowers for another. The shoes look comfortable.

I think the black top looks appropriate for the event and comfortable for the weather-- and glad you found shoes you can wear also!

Have a great conference!

Thanks, everyone, for your help! Heading out soon!

I like the new tank top and shoes:)

Love your finds. They look simple but classy and comfortable.

Of course, somehow I always end up with black, but perhaps for good reason.

Can you show us a pic when you're wearing it?

Hi, everyone, I am back from my conference! I am tired, but today is my birthday so I am happy to be back home with DH and the cats.

The cocktail reception, well, people pretty much wore everything. Business attire, some men in tuxes but most in suits, women in long gowns, but lots of cocktail attire. Some people arrived very causally, too. I My favorites of the evening were two Japanese women who had on traditional long dresses--so beautiful. BTW, the jazz band was excellent. They did a jazz version of the Clash "London Calling" and New Order "Bizarre Love Triangle" LOL for all you 80's people out there.

So, here I am in the dress. Sorry, the selfie camera is blurry. Don't know what's wrong with it.

Then for the Awards banquet I decided to go with the black top. Felt great. I highly suggest pants for your next event. Then I had to change out of this and put on my concert t-shirt to go to a rock concert! I had all my clothes laid out and a driver ready.

Of course, kitty very happy I am back home. I just unpack in the kitchen since pretty much everything needs to go in the wash.

You look great in all those pics! Glad it all worked out and you enjoyed it. Happy birthday! Looks like your fur babies are glad to see you.

Both your outfits look great; glad they worked out so well. You didn’t use the new shoes? Happy birthday!

Yes, those are the new shoes! They are great. My foot is finally doing better with wearing closed shoes.

Yes, those are the new shoes! I knew you would be fine. Strange how we agonize over these things.

I have to be honest though. It is nice to focus on ourselves and work on ways to look and feel our best.

So many people out there that just don't seem to care.

Enjoy your birthday!

ETA: Gscience, we just posted at the same time.

You look great! Love the shoes, and they are perfect with both outfits. Love that WH/BM top!

Your outfits were just right! Love that when it works out. Glad you had a good conference.

Glad to have the update! Sounds like fun conference, much more interesting than the ones I usually get to go to.

Great looks! What concert did you go to?

Oh yeah, my conferences are always good. :) This is the biggest one at over 5,000 attendees. We have a mentoring breakfast, and then the awards banquet where my graduate adviser received a major award (not a leg lamp lol).

Delilah, Ghost! I saw a show about two weeks ago in Asheville and then this show was a bonus since they just happened to be playing in St. Paul when I was in Minneapolis. LOL, when I got back to the hotel some of my colleagues were in the lobby and they were amazed I had already gone out and back to a concert. \m/

I also took a tour of Prince's Paisley Park residence. Definitely recommended if you are in the area. It is about a 30-40 min ride from downtown Minneapolis to Chanhassen. My driver was my BFF on Friday between Paisley Park and the concert.

The outfits look lovely! I really like the way those shoes looked with the outfits as well. Good to hear that your toe is more comfortable now. Glad everything worked out and a very Happy Birthday to you.!

You look great in both outfits! I really like the pants/top outfit.

I definitely should try this some time. I pretty much always wear pants, but never to formal events.

Happy Birthday!

They waited so late to let you know that it's formal attire?

Glad everything worked out for you.

(They'd be getting whatever I had at hand, and liking it. Including the only shoes I can wear for more than 20 minutes at a time, which are black men's running shoes.)

Lesson learned: we should all have a few up to date items tucked away for the variety of unexpected events that will come our way.

Absolutely!

Love the outfits you picked.

Love that the scarf/pashmina came from another conference and China (if I read that correctly).

Love that you make the most of your conferences and squeeze in concerts.

Oh, yes, now I recognize the shoes! They look great; I had in my memory they were black for some reason....these are better!