Hi Nicole, I'm glad you received your order!

The dress I'm not 100 % sure about. It is too big, and it looks much better pinned. I do not see any 'lumps and bumps' that you are talking about. I am not sure if it's worth all those alterations you are describing. But the color is lovely on you.

Wrap tops: I love the silhouettes and colors on you! Cami/pinning is fine IMO. They could be tad too long, but I figure that you can scrunch them up thanks to the ruching. i think that they are keepers, but I may be biased!

Green & Yellow top: Like these a lot too, They fit you nice and the colors are very flattering.

I'd keep all the tops and give the dress a bit more thought.

Hmm. I agree with Tanya- the dress looks better with pinning (love the detailing at the bust), and it is a very nice colour, but that's a lot of alteration that you would have to get done. Sounds like a bit of a pain.
The wrap tops are great (I especially like the one with the print) and I love the bright colours of the other tops.
Also, I know this is off-topic, but those red wedges are dee-lish.

Keep in mind ladies, that any alterations will be done for free, by my very qualified and extremely talented mother. (She's going to be 80 on her next birthday and does not look or act a day over 60).

Thanks for the thumbs up on the shoes Lannie---They were a Marshalls find for $20. My husband said to me yesterday..."How come every time I see you, you have on a new pair of shoes?" To which I replied "I've been waiting for you to notice. Now I'll stop buy them." I got an eye roll for that. :D

EDIT: Also wanted to point out that ANY dress I buy will need major alterations because of the huge discrepancy between my upper and lower body.

Hmm! That's a fair point that alterations would always be necessary. Well, if you decide to go with the dress, it's something that ought to be versatile enough to work for a variety of occasions. It's a style and colour that would also work with all kinds of shoes and accessories. Definitely go with the sleeve alterations though.

I love the color of the dress and it seems to me like it will be just beautiful on you when it is the correct knee and sleeve length. I don't see any lumps or bumps at all either.
I love all the tops except the yellow one. It is OK but the color is very bright. It seems a bit too bright in the picture anyway.

Nicole, I like that dress best out of any of the others you've posted! The color is great. If you're uncomfortable with any "lumps and bumps" (which I don't see) you could always do as you say and wear some spanx.

I love the wrap tops. I pretty much always wear a cami under my wrap tops, so I think they're great...good colors too! I like the lighter green shirt better than the yellow one, but the yellow one looks nice on you style wise. Love your new things!

I really love the red wedges! I've been looking all over for some red sandals, I guess I just need to keep hunting. Good find!

Thanks for the pics Nicole. You have found YOUR tops! (Thank you Tanya). Those wraps look FANTASTIC! You look slimmer to me. Are you sure you haven’t lost more weight? You look deliciously hourglass-y in them. They are perfectly cut away on the shoulder. I like the longer green one especially. It’s a newer look and length for you. Killer.

The capped sleeve tops look good too. By all means keep them. You know I prefer you in sleeveless styles so my thumbs are bigger for those silhouettes. (Nice to see you have fun with colours and patterns!).

Oh Nicole, you wear coral extremely well. (You give Ana good competition). So pretty. I knew that dresses with front wrap ruching detail would work and they do! I love everything about this dress: the sleeves , the neckline, your décolletage, the colour and the length. Imagine it with a metallic sandal for the wedding. I say have it altered by precious Mum. What do you say?

Ps no lumps and bumps on my screen

Angie, I stopped weighing myself because the standstill was making me want to give in to a creme donut! I have committed to not weighing myself for a few weeks to see if I can get past this. I have struggled with weight and body image all my life, but I'm finding this new approach of not weighing myself daily to be very good for me. So, if I lost more weight, I don't know yet.

Speaking of Ana...where the HECK is she?? Ana!!! Come back we miss you!!

And about the dress...I spoke to mom today. I'm going over there tomorrow with the dress, some heels and the undergarments I'd be wearing with it. She'll let me know if it's something she can alter. She said so long as it's not overly big in the shoulders she can work with it and she was looking forward to the challenge. So, if mom says she can make it fit, then I'll keep it.

Nicole, I want to echo Angie: I am so thrilled you tried wrap tops. This style is sooo flattering on you.

That dress is super flattering and -hope you don't mind me saying this- sexy on you.

The red shoes are awesome, and I like all the tops, although the yellow one a little less than the others - maybe because the cut is the plainest, and I think the wrapping and rouching looks best on you.

You should also look at long-sleeve wrap style dresses in fall! Do you like boots? I imagine a wrap dress and boots a killer look on you.

Nicole, I'm piping in that I like the dress too. If your mom can work with it, I say go for it! You say you have a lazy eye for clothes on, but it seems to me you have a great eye for clothes on the hanger that will work for you. :)

PS. I agree with Angie that you look slimmer. You are looking really good, in fact. I also like to not weigh myself all the time because it helps me be less hard on myself which is more conducive to a positive body image.

Oh yes Antje, I HATE it when people tell me I look sexy...what an insult! (j/k--you KNOW I'm kdding...... right???) I feel very sexy in it because the fabric is so soft and light. And it's a much fuller skirt than what I'm used to. And yes I do love boots. I need a new pair this fall though. Maybe two. Or three...or.... ;)

Thanks Patience! So sweet of you to say those things!

I'm not sure what shoes to wear with the dress for the wedding. I have the espadrilles I wore in the photo--might be a bit too high for how much standing I'll [probably be doing. I also own a pair of white thong kitten heels (but I prefer a wedge since I'll be outside walking on soft grass). I don't own any metallic shoes. Hmmm...I'll have to take inventory....

Thanks everyone! You're all so sweet and great at making me feel good about myself.

Nicole, you look fabulous! The wrap tops really suit you and I do love the dress. How lucky you are to have your mom to give you free alterations! My grandmother used to do mine but she's getting older so now the most she will do is hems and shortening. I've always meant to learn and never gotten around to it! Anyway I love the dress on you, the colour really suits your complexion

I don't see any lumps and bumps, but if you do, definetly try spanx. I find that spanx is good under dresses anyway to ensure that there are no lines of any kinds showing through.

And good for you on not weighing yourself daily! I find when I used to do that, I'd get too caught up in the numbers and the emotional highs and lows of seeing the numbers increase or decrease (or worse, stay the same when you are trying so hard!). But you do look slimmer to me overall so whatever you are doing, is working :-)

I don't have much to say (as usual). The wrap is made for you and I like the dress. I think it would be worth the alterations, especially since they're free. It looks really good pinned back.

I think we might call you "the wrap", Nicole. If Tanya is prepared to stick with "the wedge", "the scent or "lips" . I can’t wait to see this look evolve for Autumn with boots and skirts (Antje and I are a little obsessed with boots and skirts which is why we’re so excited). You OWN this look. Work it!

I do hope the dress works. If so, I want a report back on metallic heels, clutch and necklace.

Ps you are looking SOOOOO good.

Well Nicole, now that I know the circumstances for the alterations, please alter the dress and keep it! It is lovely indeed!

I've already sad that all the tops are fab.

You do look amazingly good I agree.

And you can certainly take the torch for the name "wrap' :) I have plenty of others to go buy. Oo, and the first chance you get, please do try a real wrap top on. I have a feeling that it's going to be amazing too.

I am so glad it all worked out so well. * doing the happy dance*

I'm a little late in posting and I haven't read all the responses, but I just wanted to share a few thoughts in case you wanted yet another opinion.

I love the dress. As someone with a large bust and a huge discrepency between my top and bottom half, I know how hard it is to find dresses that work. I think if the alterations are practical for you to do, go for it. It's a beautiful color on you.

The tops are great. I love the green color on you. You have inspired me to get a few sleeveless wrap tops like that.

My mother LOVED the dress. I didn't even take it out of the bag and she said "ooooh I Love the color". She pinned it (it looked so much better) and we agreed the sleeves needed to come up a little bit. Almost to the elbow, but not quite. She pinned the hem a few inches, it's will show a bit of knee cap.

Once I had the dress on and it was all pinned, she said "what about your shoes?" I assured her that the black ones I was wearing were just for heel height. She said "I am thinking something sparkly...maybe metallic". I told her that was my goal, but since I was insisting on a wedge heel that might make it difficult. How funny that she thought the same thing as you Angie about the shoes.

The best part about the whole thing is listening to my mom reminisce about her youth and love of clothes and fashion. She talked about articles of clothing she owned and described every little detail.

If I know my mother, she will call me sometime in the next few days to say the dress is done. I bet she started ripping seams the minute I walked out the door. I can't wait to put the whole thing together and share the photos here!

And I can't wait to see you in your altered dress with metallic shoes!

How precious your Mum is. Tonic for the day.

Just got back from mom's, and picked up the altered dress. I don't know guys...I'm feeling a little uncomfortable with how big my boobs look. I have this problem every time I buy a dress for a special occasion. Intellectually, I know the problem lies in the fact that I don't like my bust size. But emotionally, I want to beleive that it's the dress and not me. But again, intellectually, I know that no dress can make my breasts smaller.

I went with a metallic silver (almost a grey) shoe with some jewels. I looked for gold, but didn't find any that caught my eye and were going to be comfortable enough for the duration of the wedding. I'm a sucker for glittery shoes. And I tried on two different necklaces. One that matches the shoes, and the other that matches the dress. I don't think I'll be carrying a clutch to the wedding.

Bring it on, ladies....

http://s289.photobucket.com/al.....Nichripar/

Ooh Nicole, I absolutely love it! It is adorable! You look gorgeous! I don't know what other words to use other than Wow!

Please, please keep it and wear it.

The shoes are lovely. I may have already suggested these, but here are some cute gold wedges:

http://www.smartbargains.com/s.....av=&s=

Thanks Tanya...I couldn't wear that high a heel to a wedding--and the straps would kill my pinky toe! I wear high heels to work because I am sitting more than standing, and do not commute by foot or public transportation. Do you think the silver ones I have are an okay color? I'll see if I can find a close up of them.

I can't return the dress now--after all those alterations. The wedding is this Sat. so this is what I'm wearing--or I'll go back to my stand by outfit of the green and white AT skirt.

What about the necklaces--which do you prefer?

I think this is the shoe:

http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....er-145414/

Nicole you are too hard on yourself. The dress looks perfect on you!

I like the shoes too, the embellishment of the shoes compliments the simplicity of the dress IMO. I like the second necklace better.

Oh, the silver ones are definitely Ok, and way more than that, they are fab!
Sorry I missed the necklaces first time, I like them both, with a tiny preference for the second one.

Please wear the dress to the wedding, you look so beautiful in it!

I have other necklace options if this multi color one isn't working.

you look so pretty and polished, Nicole !!! (i wish i could wear coral that well)

I do hope you would'nt change your mind and fall back on the skirt..the dress looks too good.. i love the sandals too. Not very good at picking up necklaces to match outfits though.. And maybe you could add a bracelet ?

Nicole you look smashing! I love the colour of the dress on you and its amazing the difference a higher hemline makes!

I'm similar to you Nicole in that I've always felt uncomfortable with my chest size as well, and started to develop a habit of slouching so that they wouldn't stick out as much in my late teens. It was only after I met DH that I became a bit more comfortable with my shape and my chest size, although to this day there are still certain shirts/dresses that I refuse to wear b/c I think it highlights my chest a bit too much. But DH made me realize that I was being too hard on myself and too self-critical, and that the only person who noticed these things was me. I think we're our own worst self-critics!

I just looked at your pic again and I *love* the fit of the dress on you! It fits your body perfectly! How lucky to have someone who can alter your clothes in the family!!

Nicole, how svelte you look in that dress! Perfect color, perfect fit, perfect style! Do NOT change your mind about wearing this to the wedding. (On second thought, you might upstage the bride...) I think the shoes look nice with the dress.