I was surprised to find that in this Eliza J dress, I should have bought a size down and gone with 10. Even more, I had hoped that the colors would pop in person but they were a sweet, sort of subtle yellow that totally clashed with my pale olive skin. Also, I think the dress is better reserved for the long-legged. On me, the style made me look shorter (I'm 5'3") and heavier (I'm 160 lbs) than I could have imagined since I usually find that Eliza J dresses are figure-flattering overall. This is a dress for apple-shapes, people with a full-bust and hour-glass figures. It didn't flatter my very pear-shaped body.
Also, I'm used to buying regular dresses like this and finding that because of my height, they hit past the knee. This dress was way above the knee on me and I like my dresses just past. Again, a very pretty dress but not for me. If the skirt had been fuller and the waist had been dropped a bit and the yellow was brighter or alternatively, darker, I would have been a happy camper. Unfortunately this style is not for me.
And remember go a size down!