After seeing Julia Bobbin’s Mad Men challenge, I decided to create a look inspired by Megan Draper’s bold, graphic day dresses.

Geometric and colorful.

This bright print seemed perfect.

Fabric: geometric, striped cotton

I picked out a pattern from 1970. I know, I know. MadMen is only up to the late 1960s. But this illustration is enough in line with Megan’s style not to seem anachronistic.

I think.

Pattern: McCall’s 2386, 1970

Anyway, I started to make Option A, the dress on the far right with the high collar and sleeves.

It did not go well.

Even with only one sleeve half way done, I could tell that this dress was going to be crazy ugly.

Hells no.

I removed the sleeves and collar and decided to simplify. I used the facing pattern pieces to make up a Peter Pan collar. It didn’t turn out half bad.

I originally thought I would belt the dress, as in the pattern illustration. Then I accidentally hemmed it kind of short (as I have a tendency to do), and now I think the proportion works better just as a trapeze dress.

Peter Pan Collar

Perfect for summer shopping. Assuming summer eventually makes an appearance.