Ithink this would be gorgeous, with a black cashmere wrap

Wow! Ask and ye shall receive! Gorgeous selections, MTN. Great skirt, mrc ( if I may)... Love to see what you put with it.

Beautiful skirt! You have been given lots of good options by MTN. I have those sandals (Nordstrom) and they are perfect with that skirt.

I like many of those above. All very different styles. My concern would be where the end of the top lands. It is hard to tell, but is that a band around the waist, or is that part of the top the model is wearing?

What do you usually wear with this skirt?

pretty skirt! While I like a lot of the tops mtnrd posted, I'm always wary of white tops with black skirts, ever since I wore one to a fancy business party and found myself in the same colors as the wait staff! Since the skirt is fuller, I'd go with a more fitted top, esp around the waist to emphasize the pretty silhouette. Something you can tuck in. There's a lot out there that's lace with illusion that might be nice, or something like this one from Macy's which has neckline interest, but won't interfere with a sweater.

Most of these are silk.

OMG, those are wonderful ideas, Mtn! I think that we should designate you our official fashion guru!

Second that thought, Lynn. What gorgeous tops you have shown, Mtn. Makes me wish I had a place to wear them.

I love the Mtn tops, too, but the pic of that Elie Tahari one made me wonder if I was having a stroke. Love the Kooples one, kinda arty and different.

You do know the more expensive the outfit is, the more you are expected to donate!

I agree that I had sticker shock at those top prices. Perhaps a carefully selected top which would encompass many functions would merit bigger bucks, but heaven forbid we women wear the same thing twice!

Really, spend less on the look and give more to the charity non-profit.

Since you want it to look more springy, I was going to suggest pink (blush is very popular this year so you can probably find alot in that color) or a bright color. Shoes are perfect and you could further accent with a fab pair of black earrings and purse. Something off shoulder or cold shoulder perhaps and I agree that you need something to tuck in with that waistband. The skirt looks to be full, so I wouldn't go to full on top. I also wouldn't go with a black background (ie if you do black/white - more white than black in the print/stripe, etc.). to keep it looking springy. To spend less, do you have a resale shop nearby? You can sometimes find some great fancy items - my sister bought a dress to wear to the ballet that still had the tags on it - for a fraction of the price. Especially great if you are someone (like me) who goes to very few formal events.

I agree a lot (most) of the above tops are nowhere near my budget but they can be useful for inspiration.

Earlier this spring, I paid a fortune (for me) for a Vince Camuto top. Cotton stripe with a portrait collar. A few weeks later I saw very similar tops at Target and Old Navy. I hadn't worn the top yet so I returned it. The. Camuto was nicer but not that much nicer.

I love the DVF and the first large scale lace top. I think cold shoulder tops are hard to pull off.

Sometimes clothes are expensive for stupid reasons but sometimes they are really gorgeous, intricate and well made. It's often hard to see the details in photos.

Is this to casual? Shell and cardigan...

D_gw, its crazy how expensive some things are. I was looking for V-neck sleeveless tops and couldn't believe some had price tags in the $700 to $1,100. They were sort of plainish. That is nuts!

Thanks for the suggestions. I have worn this skirt with a cropped, fitted cashmere sweater. I do gravitate to a retro feeling.

Blush pink, yes! Fitted, yes! I also like mtn's example of the lace and taffeta blouse with the bow. Something like that, at a lower price point (with or without bow) would be nice.

Hey, my first one, and my fave actually, is the one for GBP12.50!

I think for a cocktail party fundraiser, people usually dress up. But also, as someone said above, these are really ideas more than suggestions per sse. I think you can find close cousins to most of these at lower price points. What did you want to spend?

I think a cropped fitted cashmere sweater is perfect with the skirt. But maybe not for spring. I could also see a sequined tank if it were good quality (there are many awful renditions)

PS Thanks for the kind words. As you can tell I love to shop!

Any one of Mtn's tops would be great. But what I want to know is where do you live that's cool in June?

from Ted Baker. I like the white cropped with the trim at the neck. $295. Gosh it looks easy to make and maybe you could bedazzle it? Im only half joking.

MagdalenaLee, Pacific Northwest!

I'll spend up to $200 for a well-made, versatile top. I like that daisy sweater. Where'd you find it?

Oh, the Theia Mtn just posted would look wonderful! Nice price, too.

going back to find that particular one...

I appreciate your efforts, you guys. I'm once again leaning toward a cashmere sweater... what about something like this?

I have a vintage enamel brooch like this:

It feels like me, and it would be comfortable and re-wearable.

Does anyone know the quality of clothes on Modcloth? Most the tops are $39 to $49.

https://www.modcloth.com/

Mtn, love those dotty daisy picks!

Eta: wouldn't this be cute for a more casual animal/shelter fundraiser?

I like the look of the cashmere sweater with the big skirt; only you can tell if it is a weight that feels right for June PNW...

ETA oh sorry I though it was one you owned already.. looks great to me .... did you get your other Boden order yet?

Nope. I think Johnnie shipped it Pony Express.

The pink sweater is cute but I think that with the skirt it's going to look kind of retro in a poodle skirt kind of way. Make sure you don't wear your saddle shoes!

I love the pink sweater and brooch. I'd add a camisole underneath with a touch of lace across the top.

modcloth quality is mid to low. Cute, but starts to decay with every cleaning.

Thanks Spanish, I won't be ordering then.

btw i have to stop playing this game; every time i do i buy something!

I love the idea of a cropped sweater-- but I think for a formal event, you need something a little more than the vintage brooch. I once had a short cropped black cardigan with vintage-esque rhinestone buttons.. it was a great sweater and was perfect for so many different events. So great, I loaned it to a few friends.. one of whom never returned it. :(

This is along the lines of the buttons I am talking about-- a little funky retro bling.

This year in the PNW it's unseasonably chilly so far, at least where I am.

I love that winged-collar taffeta blouse by Tadashi Shoji and I could so wear it.

BLfenton, that was the one I ordered for myself! I can't help it, I loved fitted white shirts.

Blfenton, I like that one, too. I've worn his dresses before and I like them very much.

Funky, I actually have a cropped turquoise cardigan with those exact buttons, or very similar. Unfortunately, it is too small at the moment (and by moment I mean several years). :(

You've got me thinking, Funky. Maybe I'll harvest the buttons off the old sweater and use them to pimp out the new one.

or an embellished cardigan... $55 melijoe

Mrrogers... perfect. The only caution is to make sure it can hold up to the weight of the buttons. If I remember correctly, the larger buttons were just decoration-- the sweater had small regular and functional buttons underneath. The key though is cropped.. a longer sweater with those buttons would look like great aunt alice's hand-me-down lol!

Not too long, no saddle shoes, no poodles, got it. What about victory rolls? Kidding!

It's a slippery slope!

And not loose either. There are sexy cardigans, and there are gramma cardigans!

Mtn, I am picking up what you're putting down!

That's a great skirt. My immediate thought when I saw it was a simple, slimmer cut, lace top or a silk buttoned shirt w/ French cuffs (probably easier to find in a color, like pale blue, which would be spring-like) The winged taffeta shirt, the ALC Talia lace, and the Y.A. 2 tone off the shoulder are probably the closest to what I had in mind.

I love a cardigan with a skirt or slacks, but it although it would work and be safe with this skirt I think you could do better. However, the idea of a cardigan with the bling buttons I like! Don't care for the pink embellished one at all.

How about a cardigan or silk T with a bling belt and some great earrings?

I love raee's idea of a silk T, something cut closer to the body to show off that beautiful waist. The blush or cameo pink suggestions would be such a sophisticated look. Gorgeous skirt, looks amazing with those strappy heels!

I think some sort of a sleeveless or cap sleeve shell. I agree with raee. I think a cardigan will make the skirt look more casual.

I would use a cardigan to bring along in case of air conditioning. But, not to wear as the top for a June cocktail party.