Two dresses, one pattern--last summer's success
Anyway I searched and searched for a pattern that would make something similar, and the best I could find was my variation on the dress from Simplicity 2896.
I made the dress, but used the exact sleeves from the cap sleeve jacket--they fit the armholes. I used a textured cotton in off-navy from JoAnn's that was on clearance in several colors. It didn't need a lining, just the facing at the neck. Here I am wearing the dress while setting up at a party last summer:
It's so fun and simple, and I feel so cute wearing it! I love easy cute outfits like this dress--just throw it on and you're dressed. I tried it on to take another pic of it and remembered, I looove this dress!
I made another version from the same pattern a month or so later (I know it's a simple style, but this one fit so well!), but I wanted a different neckline, so I did some combination of the dress minus the gathers plus the yoke piece so the front is all one piece... whatever, I ended up with this:
And of course I put vertical trim down the front, this time some vintage ric rac I had lying around. I think I was sort of stuck in the mindset of the center front trim since that's what the blue dress had.
It's great to use the same pattern twice--you only have to cut out the paper once, and you know if it fits you once you make the first version!
So I know they're not recent, but there are some of my cute-and-easy dresses from last summer (that blue one I think of as a particular success). Wonder what my faves will be this summer...?