A Square Neck Dress Pattern That’s Romantic & Comfortable – Meet Madeline

If you’ve been searching for a square neck dress pattern that’s both beautiful and wearable, you’re in the right place. The Madeline Dress is my take on the classic square neckline—elegant, flattering, and easy to wear every day.

 I designed this dress for real life, and I’ve personally worn it to do everything from traveling in Japan (while pregnant!) to team pizza-making events, casual grocery runs, and dates with my husband.

My goal with every pattern I release is to make something beautiful and practical so you actually wear —a dress that makes you feel confident and makes everyday moments feel a little more special. Madeline does exactly that.

A Square Neck Dress Pattern That Flatters

One of my favorite features of the Madeline dress is the square neckline. It frames the face beautifully, shows just enough skin to feel elegant, and is cut high enough to cover most bras (which I find very practical). It gives a chic, effortless look without trying too hard.

The bodice is semi-fitted, with about 3″ of ease at the waist—so it gently hugs your curves without feeling restrictive. I find it defines the waist in a really flattering way while staying super comfortable—even after a big meal! Personally, I always feel a bit self-conscious about my belly, and this silhouette feels very forgiving.

The puff sleeves contrast with the fitted bodice, creating a look that feels both romantic and playful.

The bodice sits about 1” above the natural waist, which helps elongate the lower half of the body. I also designed the skirt to be softly gathered so it doesn’t make your waist and hip look big. Both the long and short skirt versions hits at just the right length to show off the slimmer part of the legs and make your legs look longer.

And yes, there are pockets!

Choose Your Style: Three Views

 Depending on which view you make, you can totally customize the look and feel of the dress:

• View A: Classic puff sleeves and a long, gathered skirt – this is the version I wear the most.
• View B: A shorter, slightly more gathered skirt – great for warm weather.
• View C: Long sleeves and a long skirt – perfect for spring and fall. I also love using lightweight fabrics for View C in the summer for a bit of sun protection.

Dresses I Made with the Madeline Pattern

Here are a few versions of the Madeline Dress that I made for myself 🙂

View A

This is one of the first Madeline dress I made after drafting and testing the pattern.

I made it in a dusty pink linen that’s been enzyme-washed, which makes it softer and drapier than typical linen. The silhouette has a bit of a princess feel—fitted bodice, gathered long skirt—but it’s still simple and comfortable enough to wear to work or for everyday outings.

View B

View B features a shorter skirt, and instead of just cropping the View A skirt, I redrafted it with slightly more gathers. I find the extra fullness works really well with the shorter length—it gives the dress a playful, lightly puffed silhouette without feeling too voluminous. It’s great for warmer weather and easy to throw on with sandals or sneakers.

The “Monet Garden” Dress (View A)

This dress is made with View A, and I like to call it my Monet Garden. The fabric is a lightweight cotton with moody floral prints that remind me of Monet’s paintings of his garden—hence the name.

The square neckline paired with the dark floral gives it a romantic, French-inspired feel with a touch of cottage core. I imagine wearing this on a picnic with a straw hat or on a summer date.

View C

This is View C, with a long sleeve and long skirt combo. It’s one of my most-worn versions, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where our summers tend to stay in the 60s–70s°F. I reach for this one a lot when I want something with more coverage. It’s versatile, too—easy to dress up for work or down for a casual grocery run.

The Sleeveless Hack

And here’s a little hack version I made! It’s based on View A, but I skipped the sleeves and brought in the armholes slightly, then finished them with bias binding.

I’ve included a note in the pattern booklet on how to make this version too. I love how this maroon linen looks with the square neckline and button front—it has a charming vintage feel that I love.

I even hacked it for a sleeveless dress by skipping the sleeves and finish the armhole with bias binding.

You can get the Madeline square neck dress pattern at my Etsy store.

Square Neck Dress Video Sewing Tutorial

Wondering what the sewing process is like for this vintage inspired square neck dress pattern?

You can check out the video tutorial here if you’re a visual learner or like to sew along with guidance!

Sizing & Fit

The Madeline Dress is available in sizes 0–18, drafted for a B cup, with bust measurements from 32″ to 45″. You can view the full size chart and fabric requirements here, and detailed guide on choosing your size.

If you’re an A or C cup, you’ll likely be fine using the pattern as-is. If you’re a D cup or above, I recommend doing a full bust adjustment for the best fit. The instructions include tips on choosing your size based on your high bust measurement, which is especially helpful if you’re outside the base cup size.

If you prefer a more defined waist, you can easily adjust the pattern—either by grading between sizes or taking in the waist by ¼ inch for each pattern piece to make the waist 1” smaller. On the other hand, if you like a looser fit, the 3” of waist ease already makes it incredibly wearable and forgiving.

I also designed the waistline to be slightly raised, which helps elongate the skirt portion. If you have a longer torso or prefer a longer bodice fit, feel free to add ½–1” to the bodice length. And for a more midi-length skirt, you can shorten it by 2–4”, depending on your height.

Real Dresses from Real Sewists

One of the best parts of releasing this sewing pattern was seeing all the incredible versions sewn by my testers. From florals to solids, linens to cotton lawns—each make reflected the unique style of its creator.

If you sew one, I’d love to see it! Tag me @sageandlilacstudio and share your dress using #sageandlilacmadeline and #madelinedress so we can all be inspired by your creation.

Pattern Format & What’s Included

The Madeline Dress pattern comes with everything you need to start sewing:

• A layered PDF pattern in all popular formats: Tiled (A4/Letter), A0, US Copy Shop, and Projector file.
• Illustrated instructions with step-by-step diagrams
• A video tutorial to walk you through the sewing process
• Optional pattern hacks, such as raising the neckline or making it sleeveless.

It’s designed for intermediate sewists or adventurous beginners—if you’ve sewn a dress or two before and feel ready to try something a little more detailed, this is a great next step.

Ready to Sew Your Own?

Creating the Madeline Dress has been a true labor of love. I’ve worked on this pattern on and off for over two years—developing the design, refining the fit, and incorporating feedback from an amazing group of testers.

Although I’ve been drafting for myself for years, designing for others and preparing a full pattern release has been a whole new adventure. I’m incredibly grateful to the testers who helped shape this dress, and to the community that continues to cheer me on.

If you’ve been looking for a square neck dress pattern that’s both flattering and functional—something you’ll actually want to wear every day—I’d love for you to try the Madeline Dress.

👉 Click here to get the pattern

I hope it becomes a favorite in your handmade wardrobe, just like it is in mine. 💛