I absolutely love this style of dress for my church gatherings! I am 5' 6" tall, 155 lbs, 38 bust, medium build and 68. During the days I'm working the ranch in jeans and hat, tossing bales of hay and scrubbing out rabbit pans. Sunday is the only day of the week that I can be a lady in appearance and behavior. I am an incredibly picky person when it comes to dresses and femininity. When I dress up, I have to sparkle and shine. The rest of the week I can be a pig. So there are very few dresses or styles that appeal to me. Many are way too 'youthful' in appearance for my age. I'm a very country farming individual, and live in the AZ desert, so I like wearing things that cover the knees, the arms, and the breasts! As a Christian that is a must. I'm not big on frills either. Simple, western, even exotically Mexican fits my needs and this design does it. I don't care for tight fitting outfits. Loose is best. And this dress design provides all of what I desire without overdoing the fancy perks to keep it both casual and for special occasions. I wear this with some really cute stone-colored knee high lacy leather boots and my husband adores the overall outcome. The upper panels on this dress give it a nice bodice and definition, and to prevent any 'cleavage' from being exposed (my dirty pillows) I tie the bottom tassles very tightly and add a safety pin to close up the gap. It is an over-the-head dress, so I do my hair after I put the dress on, otherwise I'll have a bedhead appearance. The pattern is absolutely adorable, yet not too childish or immature, so I pull it off nicely. My husband adores this style on me, and says it makes him feel like a kid again. The bottom flows so beautifully and there is no sheerness. I spray and toss the dress into the dryer to remove all wrinkles. The material is very light and wafts prettily around my knees. It is country all the way with a fling of dressy. It can be worn with or without a hat, but not my working hat, so I'll be seeking out future hats that are more church appropriate. The design looks like it was made for me, brassy yet subtle and the pastels are amazing. Colors are true to the display, and I opt for an XXL. Not because I'm a 16-18 figure (I'm truly only a medium to large figure with 38 bust) but because I like the fuller skirting and the ease of extra to pull it over my head and not struggle. The sleeves have elastic wrists and can be pulled up for a different style. I so fell in love with this design and loose flow that I have purchased 5 versions already and will likely purchase more. They do have other button down dresses similar in patterns that I might also consider. Well made, beautiful colors, and if you're a blonde like me, the sky is the limit on choices. Highly recommend for older women!!!
