Wrong Fabric (Again)

I spent a ridiculous amount of time on this particular disaster. I actually made an almost complete trial version of the dress in a navy fabric. I have come to despise this pattern, but the bigger problem was my choice in fabric. I have been very confused about what jersey is, and I thought this was it. This fabric is much heavier and stretchier than jersey, which made it an absolute nightmare to work with. Because the fabric is so heavy it highlights certain flaws and creates several of its own. Following the arrows starting at the left and working clockwise they are:
photo# 1
1. skirt seam that coincides with the center of the butt is not flattering
2. extreme visibility of bra strap caused by fabric weight
3. heavy draping of solid-color fabric accentuates panty line

photo # 2
4. ribs create more noticeable contour than breast
5. gathering just looks like wrinkles
6. messy hair
7. again, with the ribcage. Actual bones are showing, and while it sort of blends in with the pleating directly above, this is not a good look.

photo # 3
no arrows needed here. The fabric is so heavy that it pulls the arm hole down revealing an un-matching bra.

I have two goals for July. I will create a dress that I like and I will finish my bathing suit. The progress I’m making on that front is unphotographable, but know that I am still spending a considerable amount of time on it.

I’d just like to take a moment to complain about dresses in general before I return to the sewing room today. Previously I described the problems I have with skirts and I’m about to eat my words. Dresses are awful because the upper body and lower body look good in entirely different fabrics. I like knits and light-weight, fluid fabrics on top, and stiffer, shape-holding fabrics on the bottom. Rayon and silk are beautiful on top, but if you ever walk behind a woman wearing those on the bottom you see that her butt is jiggling all over the place unless she’s wearing pantyhose or has a rock-hard butt. Stiff fabric, even if it’s lightweight creates a lot of problems when used on the top. I had this problem with my Garden Dress. When I sit, the bodice wants to stay in a standing position, so the whole top kind of rides up and the bust darts create this wrinkly, visibly empty shell. By wearing a separate top and bottom you have all the ease of movement that your waist demands and you can pick more suitable fabrics without compromising.