Three generations skirt

So here it is, skirt three of four: a flared, lined, blue wool skirt.

I don't always put labels in my clothes, only when it'll save me the 10 seconds' irritation of remembering which is the front when I'm getting dressed. I saw Sunni's idea for using those under-utilised machine embroidery stitches and tried it out.

It's not really my thing; the last time I used a machine embroidery stitch was while doing my GCSE textiles coursework (it's a high school exam, I was 16). However, precisely because of this fact, I like it.

For some reason my waistband was 3 cm too short (and I measured at least twice!), so I made a button loop instead of the overlap with buttonhole it was supposed to be. Looks tidy enough from the outside...

... but hehe, it's really not! Not sure how this happened but it's the same on both sides so I must have been doing something wrong. Oddly, this also just makes me like it even more. See "nostalgic for teenage sewing", above.

All in all, this skirt has a real nostalgia vibe to it - and not only because of the retro shape and homemade details. It's mainly down to the fabric. It came from my Mum's stash, where she had kept it unused for what must be at least 20 years. My Grandma, my Mum's mum, had a friend who I only vaguely remember; I think she was Polish, and she went by the name of Lucy. My memory of Lucy - and really I can only have met her a few times, as quite a young child - is of a flamboyant, exotic and rather impressive woman.  I recently found out that among her eccentricities was the habit, every now and again, of bestowing fabric upon my mother for no apparent reason.This wool was a gift from her. And now, I've finally used it.

So to say that I like this skirt is actually just a little sideways: I feel a tremendous affection for it. It speaks to me of the generations that sewed before me.

However, as you can perhaps tell from these photos, I don't actually really know how to wear it yet. (That and feeling awkward while my lovely sister did a valiant job with the camera. Thank you C!)

It fits, it's comfortable, I love how it looks from the waist down (forgive the not-so-invisible hem...), but it's a style I've virtually never worn before. The vintage vibe has never really appealed to me: it just seemed right for this skirt, but I'm not used to having my waist on display, and I hardly have matching tops. This cardigan is nice but too dressy for the office; I get asked what the occasion is when I wear it. Plus, somehow I don't feel like it sits right.

Readers, please help me!  How should I style this skirt? Do I need blouses to tuck in? Or am I just too short-waisted and busty to carry it all off?

Would different shoes help, and if so, what sort?? I fear my everyday staple of ballet flats won't work; I tried it, and the silhouette has got maximum dumpy factor.

What's your advice?  What would you do with it?


P.S.  pattern from Allemaal Rokjes again.
P.P.S.  skirt four of four postponed till after Christmas :-)