Thanks everyone for your feedback! A resounding chorus cried out for no underwaist and I will be heeding them.
The pro-underwaist movement liked them (or the idea of them) because the underwaist helps hold skirts in place when you have a rectangular body shape. Since I got 99 problems but an ill-defined waist ain’t one, this doesn’t color my decision-making.
Now I am building up the nerve to also forego the separating zipper in a box pleat at the back of the blouse. Why would you want to make your blouse more difficult to put on? What was going on back in the Sixties??
I am also petting my piles of wool, linen, and poly suit weight fabrics to decide who gets to grow up and be the skirt and jacket of my three-piece ensemble
If you see any favorites be sure and shout them out in the comments. I love comments!
The Messy Method 
Oooh – Love the orange, right down the bottom. Use that!
Wow, you have some yummy fabrics! So hard to choose! For myself, I love the dark red piece in the top photo, but then we all know about me and red. The orange is also very striking. 🙂
I also love the orange. Although there is something to be said for a neutral color so that your shirt really is the wow factor.
Also, I like that meerkat is in your cloud. Awesome.
I’m drawn to both orange fabrics, but the last one in the bottom photo is just screaming to be your new suit.
I am screaming too — with fear of ruining that pretty fabric. I might save that for the suit or jacket later. It is my favorite. Maybe after the fitting shell.
I like the orange. It jumps out at you but looks sophisticated at the same time.
Also, I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Beautiful Bloggers award: http://www.sewingbythebook.com/2010/12/beautiful-blogger-award.html. Your blog is so informative and fun to read; I love seeing your updates!
Thanks so much for the nomination — I am so flattered!
Oooh, love the blue and yellow boucle, second from the bottom in the bottom photo. But it’s more of a Spring fabric and I would hate to sew something for Spring right now knowing I wouldn’t be able to wear it for months and months.
Isn’t that boucle nice? That is one of my very first, oldest Dead Doyenne fabrics.
I love the orange stuff at the very bottom. Make it happen!
Everyone loves that one but I am scared of it! It is my favorite. what if I ruin it?
knitting is so much easier!