Simplicity 5790 – a dead ringer for Joan Holloway?

I have been buying vintage patterns online again, and this time I think I may just have found another pattern for a Joan dress. Simplicity 5790 has a gorgeous plunging neckline, revealing an inserted vestee behind it (which could be done in the same fabric as the rest of the dress, or in contrasting colours).

Simplicity 5790 1964© Misses’ and Women’s Half-Size One-Piece Dress with Detachable Vestee: Slim dress with V neckline, collar, bias bow and snap in vestee has side zipper closing, set-in sleeves and self fabric or purchased belt. The skirt with front gathers and back darts features a walking pleat in center back seam. V. 1 has below elbow length sleeves and contrast vestee. V. 2 has short sleeves. 10 pattern pieces. (Copyright – Simplicity Patterns New York, 1964)

This pattern really reminds me of Joan’s blue dress from Mad Men, Season 2. I reckon if you put contrasting patterned fabric in the Simplicity pattern, and enlarged the bow, then you could have a real match for Joan’s dress. You would have to fit it very closely to the body of the woman wearing it, of course, but it could be a real show-stopper of a dress.

Joan Holloway, our idol.