Suggestions for re-making vintage dress?

[Needasilverlining]

I have just acquired this dress (MN not letting me upload direct pic, sorry). It's made of Liberty Hera in wool, and the dark blue bits are velvet.

I thought I could get away with this for work (I love a vintage dress) but it's just too vintage - very full sleeves and very long skirt, and with the velvet bodice I look like I'm in fancy dress .

On the bright side, I have some beautiful Hera wool fabric for less than the price of one metre of it - IF I can think of the right restyle. I was thinking of maybe chopping the bodice off and turning it into a skirt, but any other ideas from craftier MNers?

You could use the sleeves to replace the front panels somehow? And if that didn't work you could still make a skirt? Or take some of the skirt length off if you wanted to keep the sleeves

Gorgeous fabric - very jealous

I think that may be beyond my 'can just about make a Sorbetto top' sewing skills, but it's intriguing!

The fabric is absolutely AMAZING - the wool is so fine you wouldn't think it was, IYSWIM. And I love Hera.

I think I could get away with the bodice with a VERY plain pair of trousers, or the skirt with a sweater or t-shirt - it's just too much together, you know?