Designer dress simplified

It all started with this.

 Vogue 1153 by Anna Sui.

I made it up last summer to wear to a baby shower.  One of those very rare occasions in the last number of years where I brought a pattern home and immediately opened it and used it.  (I did lengthen the skirt quite a bit.)  One very comfortable "fussy" dress in silk.  (Just for the record, it hasn't been worn since.)  Well, the lining piece for the front bodice has a very simple rounded neckline, which got me thinking that this would make a very comfortable plain summer dress for casual wear, minus all the ruffles.  First try was this.

 I extended the shoulder seam by one inch, used the lining front and made a casing of the seam allowance at the waist for elastic.  Somehow that front with ruffles worked fine.  Without ruffles there seemed to be way too much puffy stuff going on at centre front.  That was last summer.  Fast forward to this summer.  I did start a grey dress to wear with the pink jacket, because one really does need more than one outfit per jacket.  Had some issues with fitting that needed to be resolved.  Wasn't in the mood for those.  Didn't  want to ruin the dress.  Sewed up some stuff for the children's camp that I periodically volunteer for.  Sent that off.  Still not in a mood for fitting issues.  Aha!  Back to figuring out that "perfect casual summer dress".  I removed 4 inches total at the waist at centre front from the bodice, and altered the skirt piece to match those measurements.  Here is the result.

I know.  I know.  The I should have actually paid attention to the design on the fabric.  My excuse is...  This is a lovely (to feel) piece of rayon.  "Inherited" from someone or other.  The print is horribly off grain.  I decided that it was more important to lay things out on grain, than to worry about where the print was going.  This is an "at home" dress, and I just had to get the idea produced, rather than worry about all the other stuff.  Well, if worse comes to worst I can always pop a little black jacket over this to run over to the grocery store.

I'm now happy with the results.  One very comfy dress.  And now this has me thinking that this could also work in something warm and snuggly for winter wear, with the addition of sleeves.  Now it's back to the grey dress!