For the black dress I found a skirt I liked and sewed on a bodice. I measured the actresses bust and waist, and then made a tube like bodice according to her measurements. The same is true for the plaid dress except I found a floor length skirt and cut off most of it. So I now had a mini skirt and about half a yard of the same material to make a bodice and sew it onto the skirt. The plaid dress has inch wide shoulder straps and the funeral dress has quarter funnel sleeves with lace trim.