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How to style this skirt?

Gigi

Veteran

I have been wanting a metallic skirt for a long time and finally found this one:

http://www.clubmonaco.com/prod.....d=23208046

Since I go out only extremely rarely (a few times a year), I wanted to try to get more use out of this skirt by possibly wearing it to church. (Don't laugh!) I will say that on 5'2" me, the skirt hits me a few inches above the knee, so it's not nearly as mini as it looks on the model. My concern is more that the metallic sheen (and it is just as shiny as in the pic) might be over-the-top for church. So, two questions:

1. How would you style this skirt for a more formal, conservative setting like church? (I know I can style it as it is in the pic, but I find that much black in one outfit depressing. Sorry, those of you who love your black!)

2. Is it even *possible* to style it in a way that would work for church? Or am I grasping at straws? (I will not be offended if you think I am crazy.)

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

alee

I would wear it under a jacket or sweater (topper) that was light enough to be left on, open to show the skirts pop of splash, and the same length of the skirt. Maybe in a neutral color.

Anonymous

Love the skirt! I'm probably the last person to ask about styling things for religious settings, but maybe a cream top in a more refined fabric/shape would work because it would play up the warm neutral shade rather than the shininess. And, for shoes, very demure and ladylike pumps or flats.

Neel

Veteran

Gorgeous skirt!! I would wear it with an oversized blush/white/cream cable knit sweater. I would also add brown/cognac knee highs with a slightly sheer hose (I would prefer nude, but depends how conservative your parish is). That way the length of the skirt can be off set by the tall boots. Alternatively, booties would work too. Enjoy!

unfrumped

Veteran

I like the ideas above. There was a somewhat similar question awhile back. Pairing the skirt with more creamy and war colors, fizzy fabrics reads more" daytime" than wraring it with black. And lots of leg coverage. That way the skirt is more of a metallic accent and the look is more fun or luxurious than sexy.
While your skirt is a little more of a challenge than I've attempted, I have the very same interest in multitasking items. It can sound odd to overlap date night and church, but that's a goal for me too, by remixing things.

adorkable

Veteran

Warm, soft browns and pinks will bring out the lovely orangey pink of teh skirt! I don't know what your coloring is like, but if those colors won't work for you, maybe a cooler grey or yellow?

Adelfa

Veteran

I like the idea of cream. And seconding the idea to wear a pullover with some ease and length. And I think tights are a very good idea whether with boots or booties. If you wear heels make them wedge or chunkier, not stiletto. You're conveying that you are covered up and not bombshell-y. I think it can be done. It's a very beautiful skirt by the way.

Gigi

Veteran

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!

I am leaning toward wearing the skirt with my cognac booties from Clarks, which have a couple of buckles on them and a chunkier heel. I would love to wear the skirt with cognac knee-high boots like Neel suggested, but I don't have any. :^( Said boots are on the HEWI list. Adorkable, you are exactly right that the warm brown of the booties brings out some nice warm shades in the skirt.

I will have to try to find a longer cream pullover to wear with the skirt. I have no longer pullovers, if you can believe it. My PPP creates problems sometimes... I do have a cream turtleneck from BR that will work pretty well for the time being, though.

As far as tights go, do you think cream is the only color that would work? I think that unfrumped is right about black reading "date night." Black tights seem to highlight the skirt rather than downplay it. But do you think wearing a cream top with cream tights is too much cream and will unbalance the proportions? Do you think I should head for nude hose instead (even though I hate pantyhose)?

rabbit

Veteran

What about a tight color that works well with the color of your booties? Like a muted reddish brown? or taupe?

Sometimes when I need something closer to the look of hose, I just go with an opaque tight that works with my skin tone - on me that's kind of a beige /blush nude, but with coverage (and more comfort).

Gigi

Veteran

Thanks, rabbit. I guess I am rather unimaginative. :^) That's why I'm on YLF! I'll see what I can scare up in the warm brown neutrals category for tights.

Jules

Veteran

Beautiful skirt - and I like these 'churchy' ideas better than a boring with black styling. Please show us the results!

kkards

Veteran

i'd really like to see this with a dark color, i'm not sure cream would do it justice. maybe navy or ink if you don't want to pair it with black.
please post pictures of how you finally end up styling!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I must admit, I giggled when I first read you wanted to wear it to church! But that's because it's so short on the model, and all that black....

I do think if you wear it with tights it can work just fine. People seem to dress more casually for church than they used to, so the pullover ideas make sense, especially for cooler months. It will look lovely with cream, or some blush tones.

Angie always says that when you need to tone a real "statement" piece like this down a little bit, your best bet is modern classics. If black is too harsh, my mind instantly goes to navy. How about a white or cream button up, silk shirt, or even a simple but tasteful knit, a navy blazer and your cognac boots? With nude hose for spring or maybe sheer navy? Then you would have a stellar version of Angie's navy, "peach," and brown.

Another option would be the ubiquitous Breton striped top. That would make a fun juxtaposition. I'd also try it with a denim or chambray shirt (though maybe not for church?) and/ or a denim jacket (again, not sure on church appropriateness there).

In general, I'd be throwing everything navy, ink, blue, white, cream, black, rusty brown or coppery, and maybe green at it to see how it worked. You just never know. One of my oddest but favourite combinations is a coppery coloured skirt with a fuchsia top. It all depends on the precise tones whether it will work and it's all worth trying.

adorkable

Veteran

What about putting the suggestions together for an ombre look? Cream or a pale pink on top, Brown or cognac on the bottom?

One more thought - hold it up next to every colored thing in your closet and see what surprises you! Sometimes you'd never have guessed!

Adelfa

Veteran

I have these tights in taupe. They are semi-sheer and work well as a faux nude when I want extra coverage. The pattern is very subtle in the taupe. I am not at all sure the color would work either with the skirt or with cognac booties. I am more giving these as a starting point.

http://www.hue.com/Sale/Sheer/.....l-Top.aspx

Also I love the idea of a denim shirt or jacket!

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SW Ann

Veteran

What about pairing it with navy tights and cognac boots, and a denim or chambray shirt or jacket?

karymk

Veteran

Gigi, that is an amazing piece. It's not leather, but coated denim right? So that makes it even more church-worthy. Hmmm. I go to church. Let me think.

Okay, I thought. I would wear that to my church with a simple drapey white tee and for sure a flat shoe. Like a simple ballet shoe in a tan. Oh! I just got another idea.

A black drapey tee (untucked) and black and tan ballet flats, ala chanel. Maybe a modern strand of pearls up top. Yes!

Thank you for the opportunity to fantasize about your gorgeous skirt!

E

Veteran

That's a beautiful skirt!

Churches vary so widely in their dress codes these days, that it seems it would depend on your church. You've gotten lots of excellent styling suggestions, but I thought I'd throw grey into the mix as well. I can see a medium or light grey working quite nicely with that tone too, especially when you're trying to figure out tights. There are warmer greys as well as cooler greys, but I think the skirt (on my monitor at least) can go with either warm or cool tones depending on your own preferences.

If I were trying to tone it down, I'd probably go with some kind of 'neutral' (aka not dressy or casual but could swing either way) knitwear on top. I know you have a small wardrobe, but we need pictures of it so we know what the possibilities are! hehe

L'Abeille

Veteran

I'm sure you can make it work for church. Just make the rest of the outfit ladylike but not bombshell, and it will look perfectly appropriate.

I could see that skirt as the only colour/metallic note in a winter white ensemble with neutral accents, like the cream others are suggesting and the cognac booties (and agree with the slouchy sweater for the topper).

The other thing I can picture it is with teal! I am imagining it with a dark blouse and a tweedy Chanel style jacket. Remix with whatever you have for colours. Maybe a mid-grey?

Gigi

Veteran

These are really great ideas! The best thing about all these ideas is that they will help me have several ways to wear this skirt instead of just one :^).

I went to the mall today...just a quick trip on the way home from an appointment. I managed to find some navy tights, some blush tights (with a floral pattern...not sure if it will look pretty or garish), some white tights with the same floral pattern, and some beige tights. I don't have any slouchy toppers or navy tops :^(.

I do have a teal top, L'Abeille, but it is an awkward length on me and looks bad both tucked and untucked. :^( Although if I had a slouchy topper, I could maybe get away with the tucking.

I also have gray tights to try out. We'll see how round 1 goes, with the tights. I will be back at the mall on Wed., so I can maybe look for a navy or teal top then, and an appropriate topper. I'm also wondering if I wore a cream top and cream tights whether I could wear a pretty scarf to offset all the white. We'll see.

Off to the closet to play!