What's I've been doing the past week/weekend:
I've since put the zipper in and closed up the dress.
I have to say this: I had one hell of a time with the lining. I've never really lined anything like this before, and it took forever to figure out how to line the armholes. But in the end, it came out pretty ok.
Mom doesn't want me to cut it to finish off the costume.. so sad.. snip snip