was this meant to be so difficult?

I am, at last, in my ball dress.

The trouble is that because the shoes I intend to wear with it are cute little strappy sandals (among other reasons), I do not intend to wear nylons.  Sadly, I am vain enough that I don't like the resulting lumpiness of the middle of my self under my dress, so out comes the corset with laces.  Which, predictably, ends an inch or so higher in the back than the dress does.  But no problem, because a) I can handle that if necessary, b) I plan to wear a shawl-thing over my shoulders anyway, because it's been cool in the evenings lately, and c) as it turns out when I'm pinning (in this case, tying) the hanger-loops under my breasts to keep them out of the way and gain a bit of extra support, I can shimmy around a bit and persuade the dress to ride up a little in the back, thus covering the corset-laces.

Argh, but, there is still lumpiness and also, edges.  Fuckit.  I'm cutting the nylons off at the knees and wearing them anyway.  The skirt isn't slit -- who's going to know?

Ah.  Corset gone.  Much more comfortable this way.

I have, like, anti-knee-highs.  :-)