The dress is exactly like the picture and you definitely need a petticoat for extra pomp. I didn't want the dress to be so full so I didn't buy it. After measuring my daughter, I ordered a dress that was supposed to be her size, but it turned out to be a bit too big. The bottom part drags on the floor but if I bought a petticoat it would fit perfectly. The tip was 2 inches larger. The sleeves weren't as tight as in the picture, they were baggy and reached to the wrists instead of the elbows…