An update: I sent the dress back. PPP prevails (on this occasion!) Thanks everyone for the help. Onward

Hi all

I am looking for a dark floral shift dress for winter. I have been looking at this one on ASOS for a while. I hesitated because it is not quite the shape that I am after. But I was buying something else so I decided to try it out.

Anyway, I like it. But it is very voluminous. More a swing dress than a shift dress. As I am tall, it feels like a lot of fabric, especially with the bell sleeves.

But I was wondering if I should consider having it taken in at the sides to give it a more shift like shape. Or is that courting disaster? Should I just return it?

Pics 1-3 show dress as is. In pics 4-5, I am holding in some of the volume at the back to indicate how I would prefer it to look.

I would probably wear it with tights and black high shaft booties in winter. I couldn't show that because my black booties are at work. So I just went with my taupe boots. Also, I have a virus and look even paler than usual so I am trying to disguise that.

Pros
I like the dark floral pattern (I am picky about floral)
I like the bell sleeves (but they are not essential from my point of view)
The length is good (knee length dresses are very hard for me to find)
High neckline is good for me (a lot of dresses seem to be v neck this season)

Cons
Too much volume (for my taste) and altering it could be risky
I might find something I like better (I would prefer silk or a fabric with more texture, this is viscose)

I already have a dark floral velvet dress from last year. Shown in finds. It is semi fitted and sleeveless, so it is sufficiently different I think.

Thoughts? I am undecided. But I don't think I like it enough as is (without alteration).

Ps. I have included both the tall and regular versions in finds in case anyone is interested. Thanks in advance.