I read reviews and realized i needed to buy one size up, So normally a large or and XL I bought the XXL. I think the top portion of this is a very nice, it fit well and looked good. However, the cut of the dress and the fabric of the skirt is really bizarre, like so many other reviews said the skirt is massive and way too full. Firstly the waist was really high (almost like empire waist) which might have worked but for the very stiff, starchy hard fabric that the skirt part is made of which created a very wide almost puff ball illusion all the pleats in this skirt (not flattering) didn't help either would have been alright if the fabric was light and flowing but hard and starchy meant i am already curvy so this shaped made me look like Humpty Dumpty! Returning it since Humpty is not my style.