Thank you, Angie!

#1 came home with me and is going to make a trip to the tailor. My summer date night capsule is complete.

I'm glad this little demo was helpful! I love the idea of doing this kind of thing regularly, even with garments where the difference is not so obvious on first glance. I have returned a few items lately that were *thisclose* to working but just...off, in a way that defied simple alterations.

Not every garment in the stores -- and indeed, not even every garment that catches my fancy -- needs to work on my body in order for me to have a full and interesting wardrobe. I don't know why, but I have to keep reminding myself of this. Why do I fight the feeling that I must have All The Clothes?

ETA: I think some of this obsessive wanting everything to work on me comes from a strong perfectionist streak. It's completely unrealistic, but I should be able to make everything work. Isn't that silly?

dress #1 SO gets you! and i'm glad you got it.
and thanks for sharing the one that didn't. i agree, we should have a challenge with the ones that don't get us.

(Late to the post but...)
The way the dress (#1) looks on you is *exactly* what I wanted it to look like on me. I will just second the positive comments of the others: you look fab!

You're so gorgeous! I have the same experiences. Yesterday at BR I tried on one that worked, one that didn't. And probably could have found 10 more that didn't...
I hope you got that first dress!

Thanks Janet! Love the juxtapositioning and #1 is stellar! So instructive

#2 is probably not a great cut for you but it only looks so poor because its in comparison to #1 which looks HOT!

Night and day, day and night! The first dress is fab, the second is, well...much less than fab.

I love Suz's challenge idea!

This is brilliant! I need to do this with my whole closet. And I am glad #1 came home, because it gets you perfectly!

I have a feeling #1 in a petite length would get me, and #2 would get my DD who is about my height and weight but a very different body type.

Hah, that's exactly what happens to me. Dresses like #1 flatter me to no end -and so happens to you- but tent-like dresses... oh my. This is what I was talking about a couple weeks ago in: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....body-shape

I think the second dress would look good on a dark-skin Natalie Portman. Petite, very slim and less curvy.

Love the first one & you should get it. I agree with Angie, 2 would be better longer but still not as good as one. I don't look good in that style either.