What top to wear with a mermaid skirt?

DunnoKidz

As a die-hard tomboy, I don't get how to dress in girl clothes. The materials alone baffle me. Give me a man's structured cotton shirt and baggy-boyfriend-bootcut wranglers and I am at peace with the universe. Put me in a stretchy outfit that shows me shape and I am beyond lost and uneasy.

A girlfriend picked out a feminine skirt for me, and I don't want to let her down, but I don't know what to wear as a shirt with this...ehh...mermaidish thang. It's clingy then flary at the knees and doesn't reach to my ankles. It has this wide fold-over waist-flap(?) that I don't know what to do with (totally foreign, my beloved menswear has no such wonderments).

I tried wearing it once and got (unexpected) compliments, buuuuut tucking in a man's shirt just doesn't look right. The material and shape are really throwing me off... I know this is basic stuff for y'all, but what kind of top would you wear with this girly skirt? And what shoes would be appropriate? I am stuck with flats, sandals or boots.

Day Lewin

I don't entirely agree with you about the shirt. A striped, collared crisp blue-and-white could look very good. Anything sailor-ish, too. For daytime, that is. After-6 is a whole other ballgame.

One tip: you don't "tuck" too tightly into this waistline. Tuck it in, then pull out a layer all around so that it puffs gently over the band - this is called "bloused" and is much more comfortable, and a looser, more feminine silhouette.

Something like this -- http://tinyurl.com/y6vdgcxh

With shorter sleeves, you could wear that at the office perfectly well.

DunnoKidz

Oh that is beautiful (and not something I would know to look for), thank you!!!
The skirt is black (forgot to say). Oh no, I am not :eek: an after-6 fancy dresser (for sure). Thanks for the great advice!
Blousing is good to learn, thanks!

Oh I have a crisp blue and white stripe! Hmmm, but it's a mans shirt and looks more like this... I dunno, you think it's good with the girly skirt? (cos it's my favourite shirt!)

Day Lewin

I think you could, maybe with a belt. A wide red belt and a red scarf loosely outside the collar?

Another way to wear a top would be to find a loose, flowy smock-type top that doesn't tuck in at all but drapes down below the waist.
Any colour - black always works, or red, deep blue, lace...just needs to be assertive. Great if it matches your shoes.

DunnoKidz

ok, cool - ta!

Ooooh, I googled smock-top, not form fitting, like it!
Assertive? oh my. Being invisible is more my thing, but I shall try.
(I only have black shoes.)

Thanks for the solid advice Day Lewin! Appreciate it.

Airyfairy12

Id go with a nice shirt or even a fitted T shirt in white, black or striped that you could tuck into the skirt. Keep it simple.