After the disaster that was Simplicity 8484 it prompted a discussion with my husband as to exactly what style of dress suited me now for my much more matronly and rubenesque figure. I sketched 5 different styles and we agreed a “suitability scale”. Now that I have a better idea of what may suit me (and also which styles my husband prefers!) I plan to make style no 2 from our selection, in a pretty cotton print which has an Apricot background called “Whimsy Jungle”. The pattern is one that I drafted myself by using another dress which I bought from Marks & Spencer many years ago but basically it is very similar to Butterick 5539 but with some modifications. I include darts in the front bodice to improve fit, adjust the length of the back bodice to allow for my sway back/upright posture/D cup bust, which will then ensure that the finished hemline is level and does not dip down at the back and up at the front and change the sleeve from a short self-lined cap sleeve to a short unlined sleeve.