Coral halter dress: McCalls 3584

We arrived in Florida after a looooong drive on Monday. I finally got my sewing studio re-setup two days ago, and started working on this dress, which I'd started a few weeks ago, and brought along. I had delayed finishing it, because I was having fitting woes, which have only been partially resolved.

...from McCalls 3584 ... View B.

Close-up shows bodice detail, pleats on under bodice and upper skirt, and droopy waistband. (The droop in the waistband is still bothering me)

Back View... I like the halter ties and the swoopy low back.

Fitting Woes: Whenever I cut a pattern to match my full bust, I cut 14, which then is loose above and below. But Palmer/Pletsch say to measure the UPPER bust with a sloping tape like this photo. If I do that, I'd cut a 12. I'm going to try that on my next pattern and see if that helps.

Another View. I lengthened it several inches from the pattern, and now I'm debating if it is frumpy looking at this length???