I made this for my daughter. It definitely gives a person "make 2" anxiety as it is made in halves.

I added an extra row, in pattern, to the back, working each the left back and right back separately, and instead of using knot stitch, chained an appropriate length between shells, setting up the next row for picot edging.

I then worked the picot edging on each right/left back piece. On each extra row, I added a loop to the center/back for the lacing, making an AMAZING difference toward getting the hemline to look more uniform and finished.

The way the pattern is written, the back and front are completely different and look at odds with each other. I think Nicky Epstein was poking fun--perhaps she was asked to create the most extravagant mish mosh wearable she could conceive of, and this was it. You either love it or hate it. Perceptions seem to be visceral. I wax and wane, but the changes I made to the back hemline are improvements.

Also, there were errors in the pattern; as you work it (unless it has been corrected since a few years ago) you'll recognize the errors as you work in pattern.