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.