Help with Skirt and Baby Shower Outfit

So I have two things going on: THE SKIRT and THE BABY SHOWER.

My precious sister-in-law is pregnant with Baby 2. We are traveling out of state for the baby shower the first week of June.

Shower dress code is dressy casual. As in, no jeans. It is women only and my SIL really wants everyone to wear a dress or skirt.

I purchased the skirt in the photos below a couple weeks ago. In my head it looked so cool. In these photos so far, it just feels like "elderly church lady" somehow. Skirts are just tough for me compared to dresses/pants. Really not sure if it's great on me. It's past the return window, so not sure what to do with it.

NOTES

I already own the tops and both dresses.
I need to find a different shoe than the saddle tan pair I wore in all the photos --especially with navy dresses

With the oversized black sweater, I'm wondering if it would be really fun with a midi length pencil skirt??

Black Top + Skirt (photos 1-3). MEH to me. Too much volume with oversized top and the gathered skirt. Belt doesn't rescue it to my eye.

Cream Tunic + Skirt (photos 4-6). Also feeling kinda meh about this. I like it with the vest. But I don't LOVE it enough to keep the skirt.

Navy Dress (photos 7-8). I wore the heck out of this dress last summer. I still enjoy it but not sure if I "feel it" for the baby shower. Ignore the olive cami. Need to purchase a navy camisole to wear under it.

Navy Dress 2 (photos 10-13). My favorite dress. I wonder: is it *too* dressy/swingy/date-night for a baby shower? Not sure I love it with the vest but just trying things out. Needs a better pair of summer heeled sandals with it.

Open to suggestion. I have a little time to purchase something new, whether that is a dress, skirt, shoes, or belt.

Also have a couple other dresses and my black jumpsuit. I did not try them on for this post. Listed them below, from my finds. Losing energy after 2 weeks of illness in our household.

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15 hours ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

Navy dress 2 gets my vote, without the vest. Gorgeous dress I can see why it is a favourite. Tie neck maxi in finds is my 2nd favourite for this event.

Suz

(website)

Well, i hear you on the skirt. I don't think it looks "elderly church lady" but I also don't think it is quite what you are after. Something about the pattern reads a bit...I don't know how to describe it. Or maybe it is the colours just not reading "happy" enough for the event, to me.

I love the navy dress in 7/8, but if you are not feeling it for this event, then for sure keep looking.

I think the other dress is probably too "date night" for the event.

Ket

Lise, I so love that dress!! I have worn it a few times and it just makes me so so happy when I wear it. It has this idk... early 1960s feel to it. I feel very Ann-Margret in it.

Suz, yeah, the skirt is a bummer. I had high hopes for it. Even apart from this event I don't know if it's really good on me. I think I'm best in a very narrow skirt, or if gathered it needs to be "Outlander" length and very idk... dramatic and almost costumey? IDK. Bummer too because I actually missed the return window. I still love that dress! I might warm up to it for the event? I think I need different shoes for it, and that's part of it.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said!

My fave is the dress in #7/8! KILLER fit.

Ket, I like the strappy dress in #10 with the vest best! It's casual, naked and beachy worn strappy on its own. Hence good call with the vest. I don't see dressy like you do, so that's interesting Although maybe the fabric is dressy - which I cannot determine from the pics. It looks KILLER on you, nonetheless, and I get why it's a favourite frock!

The skirt is pretty! Although not festive enough for the occasion, if that makes sense.

Angie, YAY! Thank you! Maybe I'll love dress 7/8 with different shoes! I feel it needs a very fun shoe.

And I'm so glad you love the romantic beachy dress with the vest! This dress always makes me feel very 1960s Ann-Margret, I think because of the neckline? So it feels dressy in that way. The fabric is delicious!! It is 100% Lyocell and get this! It's pleated allover like those 1990s broomstick skirts! You literally twist the thing into a giant tight bundle and tie it when not worn.

The skirt... I struggle so with skirts. I will make a new post for some help to style it. It's not festive enough, totally agree. And... idk if the shape is remotely good on me. Should have returned it lol!

Jenni NZ

Well Ket I really like the skirt! I think it looks good on you and appropriate and attractive for the baby shower.
It feels like you put yourself down quite a lot? “Elderly church lady?” Surely no women in their 30-70s would think of you as “elderly” in your early 40s? I especially like the skirt in pic 3 with the black top and the belt, and I like the sandals with it which pick up a skirt colour. If I were attending the baby shower I would be complimenting the outfit. It does look sufficiently festive to me, especially when you add your usual beautiful makeup and jewellery.
I also really like the first navy dress in 7-8, I find the second navy dress not covered enough for the baby shower. Of course I am a conservative person so there is that.

13 hours ago

Sal

The navy dress in 7/8 is perfect on you and a great choice.

The slip dress is stunning - do you have a light knit cardigan as I think that would be a great addition.

I almost like the skirt but it’s a bit boring on you. In comparison to the dresses which are wonderful.

12 hours ago

Jenni, you are so lovely <3 I didn't mean to sound down on myself, or use "elderly church lady" in an offensive way to myself--or elderly women! It's similar when an outfit feels like "retirement home", if you will. The skirt just feels frumpy to me once I put it on -- and I can't say exactly why. I love the skirt in concept but wearing it... it didn't make me go "I love this" inside. I do like the navy 7/8 dress too! I am thinking it just needs a more festive, brighter shoe to kind of zip it up!

Sal, thank you! I think the navy 7/8 dress is wonderful, and I am feeling better about wearing it. I think what's missing for me is a more fun shoe to liven it up a bit. I don't have a light knit cardigan right now for the slip dress, sadly! My favorite clove brown cardi bit the dust. Thank you for confirming the skirt. Why did it speak to me in the photos but fall so flat when actually wearing it?? Hate when that happens. (Especially when I can't return the skirt ha!)

11 hours ago

SW Ann

My current anti-skirt sentiment might be coloring my opinion. With that said, the dresses are so FAB! Either one would be great for the shower. I do like the fabric and print on the skirt, and feel like that might be what spoke to you. I am large busted, and just find skirts are not as flattering as the dresses. Plus you just need so many more pieces to make an outfit! I see in some of your later comments you think a better shoe would help with the dress in 7/8. Well, shoes go with so many things--send the skirt packing and start shopping for shoes!!

Jaime

I also vote for the dress in 7/8. It looks fantastic on you!

9 hours ago

Irina

Another vote for 7/8 - lovely dress, fits you perfectly and easy to accessorize.

8 hours ago

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