V-neck A-Line Knee Length Belted Magenta Dress

This is my first dress of my summer goal of 6 fun new dresses.  I didn't have to change much other than the sleeves.  The sleeve that came with the pattern was rather matronly so I took about two inches off the sleeve hem.

This dress is inspired by McCall's 3546 A.  I bought this pattern at JoAnne's when it was on their $1 Pattern Sale.

I went with a funky colored zipper to be cool and stuff.

And then went with a matching solid print along the neckline for a fun POP of color!

See now?  That's what I did along the v-neck.

I found the fabric at the haute fashion boutique: Hobby Lobby.  Ok, I live in Oklahoma.  Not a lot of options, we don't have a Fashion Ave in Bixby, OK.

It's been a fun dress to wear to church and to a fancy birthday lunch in Dallas at the American Girl Store with my daughter.

Fabric: Hobby Lobby
Pattern: McCall 3546 option A
Belt: Amazon
Shoes: Nude Wedges from Walmart (I get complemented on these Walmart Specials every time I wear them)
Sunglasses:  Rayban

Going a new direction: Fashion Forward

At 9 years old I made my first dress.  It was for my cat.  He looked lovely in it.
By 12 I was making dresses for myself and by high school I was making formals for my school dances (heaven forbid I show up in the same dress as anyone else; how embarrassing!)  I also found my sewing skill to be useful to make my friends custom gifts.
In college I had the opportunity to train in the University of Oklahoma Theatre Department Costume Shop.  I had always followed a pattern exactly, and in the costume shop THERE WERE NO PATTERNS.  I was expected to use my brain to create costumes.  This experience really pushed this baby bird out of the nest.  At first I felt like my world was upside down, but I left with a new confidence.  I can make anything!
Except I didn't have a sewing machine.  My MIL gave me her 1960's harvest gold Singer.  I sewed that thing into the ground.  I probably made thousands of dollars worth of stuff with that old machine.  Finally the belt snapped after 6 years.
My mom and hubs went together and got me a lovely computerized Brother and WOW!  It's been really great.
During my husband's training I haven't had 2 cents to rub together and virtually all of my sewing projects have been gifts or glamourizing my little girl:

I was really excited for my hubby to get a real job so I could do a little shopping for me.  After several disappointing trips to the mall I decided that I would just have to create what I want.
Here's what I want - Shoulders covered, to the knees, and only one layer please!
Additionally all the fashion blogs show either sleeveless, short shorts/skirts or layers.  None of those will do.
But I refuse to be dressed like a school marm.  This has been a real fashion conundrum.  I have made it my goal this summer to create 4 fashion forward, one layer, modest dresses.  I have created my designs,  used widely available patterns as starting points, and added my own flare.