In light of my short top/sweater struggles of late, I started thinking perhaps I should have a winter skirt in my wardrobe. I like my shorter sweaters but it is too much of a struggle to make them work with pants. But, it's darn cold out when I feel like snuggling up into them, so my current lightweight skirts are not an option. On to the idea of the winter skirt!
I had a cable knit mini, but it was both juvenile and too similar in texture to the sweaters I would want to wear. So I thought a wool blend would be perfect. Also, it could double as possible interview wear with a button down? (I had been contemplating either charcoal slacks or skirt in the back of my mind for a few weeks now - even have the Gap Modern Boot trousers in a watch list)
The question is whether I should tread lightly into this idea with a cheapie cute wool skirt first (#2) or jump in with a quality designer model (#1)? Both are returnable, by the way.

(and as an aside, I have added chunky sweaters long enough for pants to my F/W shopping list!)

EDIT: of course, the other side of this is that I'm in the cycle of trying to find new things to make old things work, instead of just cutting my losses and starting fresh with new sweaters . . . hmmmm.