Dress and Skirt Style Comparison

Owing to foot surgery and a long recovery with no tennis, no walking, no driving, I have perhaps a little too much free time. I got carried away making this composite of all the different dresses and skirts I have made.

I almost never wear dresses or skirts! Wearing them involves difficulties. If it's not the fear of being cold, it's the question of footwear. If it is summer, a dress can be nice unless I'm going into a store or restaurant. Then it may as well be winter.  There is no point going to a restaurant in a dress. In the winter it's too cold in general. And then if I can't wear tennis shoes or maybe sandals, I am not doing it. I'm just not into being uncomfortable. 

​Anywho. I wondered what style I look good in. 

From left: Poppy Wrap, Gray Faux Wrap, Leopard Faux Wrap, Dolman Dress, Hunchback Dress, and Regency-esque Dress

From left: Jalie Knit Dress, Black-and-Blue-Knit Sheath, Blue-Linen Sheath, Wetsuit, Superhero Gap-Copy Dress, Purple Holy-Grail Dress, and Quasimodo Dress

From left: Black and White Lawn Shirtdress, Upton, Deer & Doe Disaster, African Wax Print, Sloper No. 4, Jumper, and Blue-Linen Harvey Shirtdress

From left: Zebra Wrap, Polka-Dot Wrap, White-Linen Harvey, Purple Jalie Dress, Harlequin Dress, Spiderman Gap-Copy Dress, Moneta

From left: Flowery Long Gathered Skirt, Blue Wide-Waist Gathered Skirt, Pink Skirt, Shark Skirt, Maria's Wedding Skirt, Bossa Nova Skirt, and Camping Shower Sweatshirt Dress

From left: Self-drafted Corduroy Skirt, Swirly Bossa Nova Skirt, Grandma Hipster Skirt, Concert Solo Skirt, Homespun Tragedy Skirt

From left: Red Velvet Fail, Green-and-Gray-Knit Sheath, Black-and-White-Knit Sheath, Pink Clingy Knit Sheath, Gathered Concert Skirt​, Bossa Nova Concert Skirt

From left:  Jalie Gored Skirt, New Look Wool Skirt, Scandalously Short Blue-Lawn Circle Skirt, Stripey Circle Skirt, Flowery Lawn Circle Skirt

Of all of these, I like five, but not one do I like 100% as it is. From the top row.

1. Wrap dress. This includes the Poppy Wrap (row 1) and the Zebra and Polka-Dot Wraps (row 4). I think the wrap looks pretty good on me.
   
   ​The fabric on the red poppy dress didn't work, unfortunately. It was silk jersey! Felt wonderful but clung to every ripple.
   
   I really like the Polka-Dot Wrap. I made it with sleeves from another pattern. I love the wide cuffs and the bishop sleeves. This fabric was okay,  but I put a lining in this dress which didn't work. Long story.
   
   The Zebra Wrap has the same sleeves as the Polka-Dot Wrap. I made this for a wedding, and I'll never wear it again. Another long saga. 
   
   So I really need to make this pattern in a fabric I like!
   
   
2. Blue-Linen Sheath (row 2). I love the feel of linen, and I think a sheath is the best look on me. Unfortunately, this version does not fit me properly as the shoulders are too wide. This is the same pattern as the Black-and-Blue-Knit Sheath (row 2). I made three other knit dresses in this pattern (Green-and-Gray-Knit Sheath, Black-and-White-Knit Sheath, Pink Clingy Knit Sheath in row 7 ), and I wore three of the four a bunch to work (all but the Pink Clingy). Now I don't really like them.
3. Purple Holy-Grail Dress (row 2). This one fits me nicely (lots of muslins), and the color looks good on me. It's a heavier knit and I lined it, so it just feels kind of heavy when I wear it. Still it works pretty well.
4. Black-and-White-Lawn Shirtdress (row 3). This dress went through many alterations. It is still wonky, but I love it now with the lowered neckline. I love the bodice of the similar Upton that I made (row 3), but I don't like the pleats on the skirt. So I need to make another Upton with the skirt from the Black-and-White-Lawn Shirtdress.
5. Gap-Copy Dresses (Superhero, row 1, and Spiderman, row 4). These are very comfortable and I like wearing them in the summer. They sag a bit in the lumbar area, but it's a minor complaint.