Great omen, I know

Crap, I am actually not that good at drawing. I'm going to try printing out a croquis and using that because I think my main problem is anatomical proportions. I tried to draw this one evening dress that is completely frustrating me - here's a back view of the bodice - because I thought that might help me date it. It didn't. The whole thing confuses me. The skirt is quite full and long (1840s, 1850s?); the sleeves are very full, but aren't puffed (early 1840s?); the neckline's wide and the waistline's high (late 1820s, 1830s?).

But I did arrange to come in on Monday after lunch to start doing patterns. \o/