Hi all, I’ve just been ask to make a formal dress for a friend’s daughter. She’s approximately size 18 Australian (I’m a 12 and I think that makes me about a size 40/42 on here) and also quite short. I’m after flattering styles, fabrics, patterns etc to suit her figure.
Also, am I better off guiding her towards a pattern specifically for plus-sizes, or get a standard misses pattern available in large sizes? I think I know the answer but I’ll ask anyway.
Any help will be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance :)

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Oct 27, 2013, 12.04 AMby purplefan
Burda had some lovely long dresses for Plus sizes for parties and evening outings. You might do well to find a back issue for sale online and see which dress is the “one”. Some of the dresses tend to emphasize cleavage. Also, the Burda Plus patterns are not necessarily sized for petites so you’d have to determine where in the dress to take in some of the length (torso, skirt) to suit the woman who will wear it. And the issue dates are (link are from French site so you can see images; please note that if there is ONE pattern you really like, try checking the downloadable Plus patterns on this site before heading to the German one (which has more patterns for Plus posted online): >Burda Style Plus E019 Autumn/Winter 2011>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/La_fete_Mode_Plus_A_H_11-12/1270777-1783585-1783589.html >Pink dress in the Marriage section: Burda Style February 2013>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/burda_Style/140_Robe_en_satin/1270777-1000019-1799727-1799732-1799766.html >more to follow
Oct 27, 2013, 12.46 AMby purplefan
>Sicilian style black dresses (not formal per se but ideas): Burda Style May 2012>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/burda_Style/Burda_plus_-Mai_12/1270777-1000019-1794751-1794757.html >Wedding themed dresses (tend towards knee length): Burda Style Feb 2012>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/MARIAGE_Mode_Plus_-Fevrier_12/1437260-1789320-1789327.html >regular sized dresses with some sassy feeling for ideas: Burda Style Nov. 2011>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Tres_femme_-Novembre_11/1437260-1787049-1787053.html >Red numbers in current Burda Style Plus Autumn/Winter 2013/14>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/Burda_Mode_Plus_Automne-hiver_13-14/Soiree_Mode_Plus_A_H_13-14/1270777-1802392-1802401.html >Garden party dresses in Burda Style Plus Spring/Summer 2013>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/Garden_party_-Mode_Plus_P_E_13/1270777-1800046-1800050.html >Glamourous dresses from Burda Style Plus Spring/Summer 2012>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/Glamour_Mode_Plus_Printemps-ete_2012/1270777-1789936-1789941.html >Stunning bodice/empire waist gown in Burda Plus Autumn/Winter 2011/12>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/426_Robe/1270777-1783585-1783587-1783596.html >Spicy dress ideas from Burda Plus Spring/Summer 2011>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/Le_Sud_-Mode_Plus_printemps-ete_2011/1270777-1777603-1777604.html >Regular size evening dresses-one of the best issues-Burda Style Nov. 2010>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Burda_Style_Novembre_2010/Ligne_festive_-_novembre10-/1437260-1773561-1773564.html >Dress for a night out-Burda Style Mar 2010>http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/Archivesdesmagazines/133Robe/1270777-1463237-1765306-1765747-1765856.html Hope you have some ideas now to get started on!
Oct 27, 2013, 09.09 PMby milnay3
Thank you for your input. We found plus size McCall’s M6646. Stupid thing has a size 4 model modelling the dress!
Oct 27, 2013, 09.36 PMby purplefan
Nice tiers on that dress choice! This is the closest pattern that BurdaStyle has on the English site (downloadable for a fee):http://www.burdastyle.com/pattern_store/patterns/embellished-dress-122010