I love them on you and your styling is great!
I wear tube skirts a lot, cause they're so comfortable and versatile, and they fit better than pencil skirts on my shape. I have several knee length and 1 midi length- a bit longer than yours. The midi is great for just adding a bit more warmth than the others. Sandals and mules work for warm and transitional weather, easy peasy. Tall fitted boots for the knee length ones, sock boots for the midi is how I pair them in winter.
Do you have sock boots or fitted mid shaft boots?

Well, you've already put the effort into styling them and you look smashing. Knitwear of all varieties is huge at this time. All the editorial opinion about it is to use it to replace highly structured workwear at this time. I realize the Escada would be more expensive but I would endorse keeping them both and not treating this skirt question as some kind of emergency.
Be more patient? Live with them awhile. Get used to wearing a skirt again?

A simple tip for Star and others who struggle to style patterned skirts (or other patterned bottoms, or solid non-neutral bottoms, for that sake): Just make sure that one of the most eye-catching colours in the skirt (or other bottom) is repeated somewhere in your portrait area (e.g. in a top, topper, scarf, necklace, hat or eyewear), as this will instantly make the outfit more cohesive and balanced.

Another fan of tube skirts here, like suntiger up above. For me, they are something to always have in the closet, great layering pieces that pack easily. Some seasons they turn out to be workhorses, other times they are on the bench. I think you should keep at least one, and see how it fits in. I really like the one with the diamond pattern.

I love both of these but it's a matter of deciding for yourself if you'd like to be slightly challenged by having these in your wardrobe, vs. your usual pants-forward style (this is the exact same debate I have in my own head, so I totally relate!). They look very natural and genuine for your style, and you've paired them with great options, so the rest is just a matter of deciding to what extent you'd like to branch out, IYKWIM?

Went away, thought about it … didn’t you just say you were struggling to feel stylish when W’ingFH? If so, could tube skirts be a solution?

Katerina, FWIW I was recently debating whether to keep a second tube skirt and ultimately decided to stick with the one I had already committed to and see how I actually wear it before adding a second.

Not sure that will be helpful for you, nit in my case I decided I should be able to find another cube skirt later if I decide I need another.

However, I can see where it would be hard choosing between these. I think it was Janet who made a compelling argument in favour of the Escada for the vibe of the print.

In any case, good luck with your decision. They do both look great and very well suited to your style.

Thank you ALL so very much for the honest feedback, thoughts and ideas. I apologize for not answering to each one of you separately, but please know that I have read and reread all your answers a few times and really considered your advice and suggestions. I appreciate very much that you take time and care.

I am still on the fence with both of them and still considering returning both. This week has been busy and I look forward to the weekend - I will try the Escada skirt with a couple of other tops and toppers - a burgundy sweater, a violet blouse and a yellow coat. I have to do the possible returns on Sunday.

I'm always so excited to see a Katerina post, and I just devour the images with my eyes - you're always so stylish, and put together! I love trying to puzzle out what makes your outfits so perfectly balanced. Your style strikes me as intellectual, slightly academia, Vogue editorial, elegant, luxurious, classic-with-a-twist, and a bit no-nonsense. Without having met you in-person, I feel you'd be approachable, comfortable to hang out with, that the conversation would be intelligent, warm, and lively.

Honestly, I think these skirt outfits knock it out of the park, and feel 100% authentic Katerina.

A couple of thoughts:

If you want to branch out in a new style direction, as you're doing with these skirts, I think it helps to understand that not everything is going to be 100% mix-and-match with what you already have. At least, not at first. I have found this especially true as I've been working autumn colors into my closet. You're going to have to build out a little, like Legos. I think maybe start with a small capsule to go with that Escada skirt. Look at what you've got, play around some more, and then think about whether there are small things you are willing to purchase that fit with the broader expanse of your closet.

Second thought: you created two outfits with the Escada and five with the Gerry Weber already. That's a week worth of outfits. I think once you get in some practice styling a skirt again, it's going to be a no-brainer.

Final thought - Using a personal example here... I recently thrifted a vintage skirt - a gorgeous, slightly swishy tropical print, in colors that fit right into my closet. I started playing with it, and was surprised it to find it was challenging because...

• What is the climate and context of this skirt? I realized quickly that my new skirt is casual-to-lightly dressy, and best suited for late spring to early fall.

• The 'weight and balance' of whatever I paired it with. I did a quick style lab and found my higher-neck, warmer sweaters and flat boots looked too heavy against it.

Bringing me to...

• When will I specifically wear it? It doesn't have to be a daily or even a weekly item, but it helps if I can think of definitely life-situations for the skirt. Do I already have something that similarly fits the bill, that I love more?

• Will I actually wear it? I used to wear tropical skirts all the time - when I lived in Florida and Okinawa. I haven't worn patterned skirts in years, and shorts are my warm-weather standby. But I'm not sure if that's because tropical prints are usually scarce on the ground. They're always HEWIs for me.

• Will I need to purchase additional pieces for this skirt, for it to be truly versatile? how much money will that cost? A basic tee or little accessories won't cost too much. Shoes or a bag... that's when things can get expensive. I don't want this $7 skirt to cost me another 50 bucks in order to be wearable.

Sorry for the lengthy reply! I hope this helps, and... I think those skirts are amazing, but... I've found that there is always another gorgeous skirt waiting around the corner.

Mary Beth, thank so much for the incredibly kind comments and the lovely compliments. You are awfully kind. And please, do not apologize for the long answer, I am very grateful for your time and thoughts. It is very, very helpful.

You are right, not everything is going to be 100% match with what I already have - I must be realistic. But, will I ACTUALLY wear it? Or will I reach for something else that fits the bill - the situation I dress for (read “trousers” lol).
I am a bit under the weather today and do not feel like trying a bunch of new outfits with the Escada skirt, which I was planning to do today.
When I have thought about it thoroughly - it is the footwear with these skirts I am not happy about. I like the actual shoes which I have tried here, I think they work with the skirts in theory, but Not on me, IYKWIM. I would like to wear the skirts with sock booties or a pair of tailored higher shaft boots - none of which I currently have in my wardrobe. So, back to your thoughts - will I need to purchase additional items for these skirts to be versatile, or actually to be worn? Not something I was planning to do… On the other hand, a pair of black tailored boots or sock boots would be useful in my wardrobe and great with the dresses I already have. Better than the shoes I wear with them now…. Maybe this exercise helped me to identify a wardrobe hole.

Katerina, I think you have reached an excellent conclusion regarding the footwear for dresses and skirts in cold weather. I wear skirts/dresses quite a bit, and in fall/winter I'd say 70% of the time with tall, sleek boots and 30% with sock booties, or high shaft booties pretty tailored around the ankles. I have been doing some stompy boots this fall, too, but that is relatively new and not something I would be wearing to the office anyway.

Since I think your style is dressier and tailored, somewhat similar to mine, it would make sense that we have similar footwear preferences. For me, getting my first pair of dress-appropriate boots 4 years ago opened so many new possibilities, without them, I think I would be wearing dresses/skirts pretty rarely in fall/winter.

Any chance you’ll be looking for flat, equestrian-style boots? That’s what I want, brown with black trim and probably shiny gold metal (or brass or non-shiny metal)

ETA I’m crying (not really) that they don’t have my size. https://www.6pm.com/filters/wo.....AQgYBw.zso

Skirt person chiming in again; just some suggestions that may or may not be helpful-with print skirts, I usually prefer to match the top w/ the predominant color, so I'd first try both skirts w/ black. I don't like a ton of contrast on me though; others do prefer high contrast.

Despite relocating to a hot climate years ago, I am still never w/out a pair of flat or low-heeled black boots, preferably tall or mid-calf. I wear them w/ all my skirts in the winter, which lasts approximately 14 days. : (

Tanya, thanks for chiming in again and thanks for sharing your experience. I am convinced now that I should get a pair of black tailored or sock boots to improve my dress and skirt outfits. I am in no hurry, however. This fall and winter, it is still a lot of WFH and minimal RL meetings or travel. I will wait for the perfect pair to show up. A pair like yours would be quite perfect.

SF -these are very good looking! Thanks for sharing. What a shame they do not have your size. I am not primarily looking for an equestrian style, because I would like to have a bit of a heel (5-6 cm).

Ophelia, thank you. Good point about the colours. And yes to the boots! But what??? 14 days of winter :-)?

So, I have returned both skirts. After much deliberations, I have decided none of them was the right one this time. I just wasn’t excited enough about them…

I did like the fit, the quality, the design, the price - but I didn’t feel this excitement like I feel when an item is just perfect. When something is right, I cannot wait to wear it and I look forward to an occasion to style and wear the new thing. Not this time.
I also know that I will be WFH a lot this fall and winter, much fewer days to really dress up … I don’t want to buy something just to have it waiting in my closet …. Ok, this is not entirely true. It depends on if it is the “right one” LOL
There! I have answered my own question ….
This might be obvious but I think it helps to put a finger on it in writing …

Applause from me. That little spark can be so hard to define, but absolutely has to be there. Well done in not simply taking the things that checked the boxes.

Well, if there was no "spark", than it sounds like you made the right decision. I am sure there will be other, even nicer skirts in the future when the moment is right for you.

Thank you SF and Tanya. Yes, it feels like a good decision.