Fairytale Dress trial run

Since I don't have the luxury of trying garment pieces on Caitlin as a project progresses, I simply make up the whole item using old fabric.
In a way, the trial run is a muslin of sorts.

Because I had a peach invisible zipper in my stash, I selected some peach with white fleck cotton fabric and went to work making Oliver + S Fairytale dress.

I've made many bodice dresses in the past. Maybe 50 of them. Or maybe 100. The point is, I am no stranger to this style of dress.
So you'd think as a veteran I could make it in no time even standing on one foot and with my eyes closed.

Not this time around. This dress took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r ...... and it's just a trail run!

Despite the time element, I have to say I am completely happy with the pattern.
I just love the small collar (in the past my collars have been larger), the tulle underskirt which gives it more fullness, the petal sleeves and the little belt.

But I'm not happy with the footprints in the snow beside the dress. Coywolf. It went through about an hour ago and Lucy let me know.  It must be a big bugger too judging by the depth of the print.

Back to the dress......
For the hem, I machined a tuck instead of handsewing as per instructions.

Nervous because Lucy kept barking and sniffing something in the air, I retreated indoors to get another photo.

The dress is size 4 but is fitting rather snugly on the size 2/3 dress form. My guess is it'll be too tight. No worries. It's just a trial run.

When I do make it again I will use medium weight interfacing for the collar. The lightweight was just too thin and bodiless. (is that a word?)
Also, I think using quilting cotton is going to be difficult to iron after washing. Next time around I plan to use a lightweight, heavy-on-the-poly type of fabric.