This dress brings to mind three scenarios for me:
— Flight attendant (a trained pilot herself) manages to land plane safely after rude, chauvinistic pilot eats a bad egg-salad sandwich and spends flight moaning in lavatory. After landing, she gets his job!
— Crusading journalist takes on City Hall (and town's rude, chauvinistic mayor) and wins!
— 1970s unfulfilled suburban housewife goes back to work as charismatic teacher for school full of written-off, disadvantaged youth, fights rude, chauvinistic principal and wins!
In short, this pattern is made of WIN. Something about the yoke + neck scarf + jaunty pockets combo just leads to triumphs over the patriarchy. I don't know what it is.
This pattern is from Sheila at Out of the Ashes, who is having a sale this weekend: 15% off, starting today and ending Sunday night. (Coupon code is GLAMIS.) Got any entrenched jerks who need fighting?
A Dress A Day 
Brava, Erin! Et vive la différence!
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So if I buy this, I will get a raise? I really really deserve a raise.
Oh wait. Maybe I have to make it and wear it too? Hmmmm…
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I love this pattern!
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It just screams Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, doesn’t it?
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Hmmm, I had a dress (purchased) similar to this – with scarf, too. It was made in a muted light weight wool plaid. I ruled! 🙂 Really!
The dress was sophisticated but very comfortable. For some reason, people paid attention when I wore that dress. (I still have it in the cedar chest.)
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*snag*
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I love this dress that can take down the patriarchy! I want one in every color, with contrasting ascots.
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Oh my gosh! I had a dress like that but I never bought a scarf to go with it! That’s why my life is a shambles and I still suffer oppression from the chauvinists!
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I had a top in the eighth grade that was exactly like the bodice of this pattern. Unable at that age to pull off an ascot, I was not yet ready to triumph over the patriarchy. But I loved it. That dress is totally wearable now, accessorized with a arty/chunky necklace and postmodern swagger. Even Mr. Grant wouldn’t stand a chance.
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You crack me up…
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This is definitely an investigative reporter dress. Her name is probably Shawn. She also wears big, bold, Mr. Magoo-type glasses when taking notes or typing, but she takes them off when she answers the phone. Her shoes are stacked, wedge-like espadrilles…which one can actually run in, if it comes to that. (Note that the skirt is generously cut so you can crawl through air vents, too, like Geneviève Bujold in “Coma”.)
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Sara, my mom actually used that pattern to make a couple navy blue double knit dresses to serve as winter public health nurse uniforms back in the 1970s. They wore a blue/white pincord in the warmer months and navy blue when the temps cooled off. Mom often made uniforms to save on the cost of RTW.
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One look at this dress, and I came over all Mary Tyler Moore-y.
You’re gonna make it after all!
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I liked this “You’ve Got to Fight the Power (with an ascot)” post. It does seem to have a look of empowerment.
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