New publications, working on contest items

I was having lunch and reading the new B/McC Sewing Today and the new Sew Stylish - whatever happened to the "Demise of the Dress"? That's about 1/2 to 3/4 of what is featured in new patterns. Still using empire waists (great for those with a tummy) with more details. More options instead of the "sacks"/tunics that look like a hefty bag. I love the Sew Stylish self-draft pattern for a simple knit dress, which appears it could be a hefty bag, but adds a tie around sash, cinching it in. I am looking to make that asap, but I am working on the S wrap top, which is humming along nicely. Black cotton knit is easy to work with and the directions are pretty easy, except for after sewing the shoulder seams, I am putting in the sleeves as flat construction. You can find this in one of last year's Threads by Marcy Tilton, I think. Shoulder seam, sleeves flat, then sides, because sewing in sleeves flat with sleeve towards feed dogs helps ease it in rather than gathering. Works for me!