Holly Golightly | 2024

Holly Golightly : Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Made for : My birthday!

Background : I wanted a nice, breathable dress for my birthday (which is right in the middle of summer). I started by purchasing the fabric first which was a nice black linen and decided to make a replica of Audrey Hepburn’s iconic dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Things used :

As I mentioned just above, for this project I started with the fabric first and then the idea of what to turn it in to came second. I’d been meaning to make a replica of this dress for a while now and this time seemed as good as any!

I tried looking for a suitable pattern first and other than Vogue 1102V, nothing came close. The Vogue pattern had a very similar bodice (it would just need lengthening in the back), and a kind of “inspired by” back but it wasn’t close enough for my liking. As I’d already decided I was swapping out the pencil maxi skirt for a knee length circle skirt, having the back part of the dress exactly the same was very important. That left me with only one option – Self-Drafting.

I used my handy-dandy vintage drafting book – Successful Dressmaking by Ellen and Marietta Resek to help draft the bodice. I started with the basic block then drew in a new neckline, making it scooped and then drew in the ‘u’ shape in the back and the point that meets it.

The bodice is self lined in the same fabric and has some black iron-on interfacing in the neck and arm holes to help with stability. It zips up in the side via an invisible zip. I even added pockets in to the skirt.

Overall I was happy with the fit but after having worn it, the fabric was too itchy for me. I do think I’d like to make the dress again and do a perfect replica next time.

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