The Gillian Dress: McCalls 6696 Sequel

They say most sequels are never as good as the first film, with exception to the Godfather 2...obviously. So, does the same apply to repeated sewing makes of the same pattern? I think, with the help of the outstanding McCalls 6696, I may have made a Godfather 2. But, the vote is of course yours dear readers *scratches face, ask your friends in the neighborhood about me. They'll tell you I know how to return a favor.
It's no secret that I love the McCalls shirt dress (6696). I first made it last year to wear on a date with Elvis at Sun Studios. Ever since, it's been the pattern I heartily recommend and praise. With zero alterations (I can make a size 10 straight out of the packet with no fuss) it makes sewing up a shirt dress a breeze, and so I have been eager to make a sequel.
This time around I opted for the straight skirt version, which omits the belt loops, and has short sleeves and pockets. I wanted a more classic shirt that would be suitable for perching on the edge of a desk while I write down Don's lunch order, or out for a sunny stroll in Greenwich. And what better fabric to do the job, but glorious chambray.

I bought this chambray in Toronto last summer while fabric shopping with my TO girls (Catja, Andrea, Sara and Gillian). Both Gillian and I bought some of this fabric, so I have named my dress in tribute to her. Gillian is one of the sweetest fellow sewers I have ever met, which makes a cool, easy and cute shirt dress seem pretty apt for such an equally cool gal.

The only alteration I made to this pattern was the gathering on the back bodice. I didn't mind it on my pleated skirt version, but for the straight skirt style I chose to omit the gathering. I did this by removing the gathering allowance and using the new line as the fold. As you'll see I had a brain fart and forgot the bottom of the back bodice has a greater gathered allowance. Doh! So, there is still some gathering there but I do like it and it's definitely less poofy than before.

Thanks to an overwhelming vote on Instagram, I used white thread for topstitching my yoke seams. However, after some deliberation I chose not to topstitch the collar. I've left this plain and prefer the finish.

The buttons are my favorite detail. I managed to find white rubber buttons in Kleins, Soho. They are really unusual and bendy, and because they are made of rubber, they have a nice 'grip' on the fabric.

Otherwise, the make was pretty much the same as my Sun Studios version. I overlocked all seams apart from the waistband and yoke, which are faced with the same fabric.
I really love this dress, it washes great and feels lovely to wear. It's already had a few outings including a Mexican feast in Toronto - seemed fitting that the chambray got to return home in shirt dress glory!
So, what do you think? Can I persuade you to jump on the McCalls 6696 train and start an epidemic of shirt dresses?