Hi, Anne. Here are my thoughts on your dresses.
1. I agree with you that the top isn't a good fit. Could you take it in a bit? I can see it working with a jacket or cardi.
2. This looks very classic. The only thing that seems off are the shoes. Maybe it needs a bit of a heel?
3. I'm not a fan of this dress except the gorgeous color. The tiny cap sleeves and tie back seem little girlish to me. Can you bring the ties to the front and tie in front instead? I may be completely off on this dress since others loved it, so let's see what others say.
4. This looks like a good summer day dress that you could get another season's wear out of. Are you still nursing, because the front opening would be good for that? Could you wear a cami under the dress and leave some of the top buttons undone so that the fit isn't as critical? I'm small on top and use this idea, thinking (maybe wrongly!) that a bit of gapping over the cami gives the illusion of a bigger bust. You might also replace the matching fabric belt with a leather one for a different look.

1. Not too wild about this one but if it works well with a cardi, seems like it could be useful. I remember Angie suggested using a summery crochet cardi to keep things cool when a dress needs one. Love that idea. And let's face it- for really hot days a dress like this can be a lifesaver.

2. This seems endlessly versatile- but it is a little hard to see the details. Does it feel good to put it on?

3. Not sure about this- I'll defer on this one.

4. Yes! I love this on you. What a great summer dress! If it's a little too big now, could you take it in a bit? I've also used Joy's suggestion of a cami under (being a fellow small bust) and I think it works great. But if you want to keep it cool and unlayered, maybe you could post a current photo in the dress and we could tell you if the fit looks too off. It seems like with patterns, you can get away with a little more than you can with solids.

It's fun to be thinking about summer dresses when I'm freezing in my old house here in Seattle!

Joy and iInead thanks for your detailed comments

Sinead - it is pretty cold here still actually. Still cold rainy winter weather! I am just trying to think ahead.

1. Joy the bodice part is quite tight. Not sure I could take it in Sinead - yes it was a dress for a really hot day.

2. Joy - agree - those sandals are dreadful in the pic! I am wondering if it is a little long - but also if it is worth doing up the hem since it is an old dres

3. Joy, little girlish was precisely my fear about this dress. ( I liked a suggestion on the other thread to toughen it up with a moto jacket - I have a pleather jacket that would probably do)
I think I need to tie at the back to rein in the fullness there (I always seem to have lots of fullness at the back of my dress - prob because of the swayback)

4.Sinead and Joy, I'll try the cami idea and see if I can get you an updated pic

thanks again!

Oh forgot to say, yes Joy I am still nursing and also here is a pic of the dress with a different belt (same date as the other pic)
http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....c08113.jpg

1. Sweet. Keep for very hot days.

2. Nice. Shorten.

3. Love! Shorten.

4. Cute. Swap out the belt for something red or pink and skinny.