Let me begin by saying that ANY dress (especially occasion dresses) will look a bit different in-person versus online because the majority of these models are around a size 2, so the images we see when purchasing the items will not translate the same on larger, more voluptuous body types. The dress may be gorgeous, but that doesn't mean it will flatter everyone. Having said that, let me get into this particular dress review...This dress is indeed gorgeous. My measurements are 36-31-41 and I''m 5'9'' tall, and the size 10 fit nicely. For those measurements, I wouldn't go any smaller, but one size up would probably work okay too if you want a slightly roomier fit. The long train is just what I wanted, and it's long enough in front that I could've worn heels but not so long that I couldn't have opted for flats if I wanted. The slit is also a nice touch and gives just enough sexiness without looking vulgar.There are several issues I had when I tried it on. First, I'm doing an outdoor event in the summer and it feels rather heavy, which I think would be too hot for me. There's also a bit more "bulk" than I'd like in the top part and around the midsection, which is where we want to look smallest and brings me to my next point: the waist is actually more of an empire on me while it looks a bit lower on the model, like it sits at her natural waistline. She may be shorter than I am, but I drew an arrow in one photo to show where my natural waist (the smallest part of my torso) is, and you can see it's several inches lower than the waist of the dress. Right now, it sits more around my ribcage, which is not the smallest and so appears larger than my waist, and also feels tight when I inhale where it wouldn't if the waist was actually AT my waist. I also think the mesh stuff between the breasts and under the armpits is pointless, and if I would've kept this dress, I would've cut it out.Overall I do like the dress style and fit, but decided to return it rather than settling for the reasons mentioned.