Christmas dressing part 2: what shape suits me?

In the previous post I started off with an idea and some patterns, but I wasn’t sure which pattern or shape would suit me best.

Step 3: trying out shapes

I was in Birmingham on Saturday – an excellent opportunity to try stuff on. I have some grainy cameraphone pics to help me decide. I have to say, it’s weird trying stuff on, knowing you won’t buy it.

Pleated top dress – I think this one was too big for me. Don’t know if the neckline is good for me.	Same sort of skirt, but with round neckline. I liked this one, although the skirt is somewhat long and the neckline high.	The back of dress #2
Shift dress. I liked this very much, but it didn’t fit around my hips. It’s a couple of inches too short, and the neckline is very high.	Side of dress # 3. Please ignore the food baby. Note to self: wear hoiky tights.	Back of dress #3. Excuse the terrible shot, but it captures some of the detail.
Not a great dress, but I prefer this kind of neckline. The fabric was horrid and the skirt didn’t do me any favours. Peter Pan collar though? Yes please.	Horrid dress from the side.

After trying on these dresses I’m afraid I went off on a tangent. I went to the market. I fondled many fabrics. Somehow I ended up buying purple curdoroy, lining fabric, a zip and thread. I decided I’d make a shift dress, so I could try out the pattern for the bodice of the Swing dress but combine it with an A-line skirt. I could alter the neck line so it would be a little lower and have a collar. I had it all worked out.

Now, while I’m writing this post a few days later, I wonder – isn’t this pattern-bodging a bit ambitious for a first proper dress? Will I have the time to make this AND a Christmas dress? (And write a 2,500 word report for my university course and work full time?). Would a purple shift dress be good enough for a posh Christmas do?

The answer is probably no.

Oh.