Sewing an Olivia Dean Inspired Dress for a Special Occasion

I made this dress for New Year’s Eve, but I’m only sharing it now, and the timing feels perfect. I fell in love with a dress worn by Olivia Dean in New York during her Short and Sweet era appearances, and it stayed with me instantly.

The dress was incredibly simple, yet so striking. A black satin halter neckline tied at the back, an open back, and feathers at the hem. Nothing overdone, nothing loud. It felt classic, elegant, and very old Hollywood. That effortless kind of glamour that doesn’t need explaining.

I’ve always loved Olivia Dean’s style. It’s confident, timeless, and intentional, and seeing her win a Grammy recently only made me appreciate her even more. She absolutely deserved it. It felt like the right moment to finally share this project.

When I decided to make this dress, I knew I didn’t want to spend time drafting a new pattern from scratch. I wanted the process to feel enjoyable and realistic, not overwhelming. So I used an existing sewing pattern as my base: the Sissy pattern, originally designed as a bridesmaid dress. It already features a halter neck tied at the back and an open back, which made it a perfect starting point.

From there, I made several changes to adapt it to the look I wanted:

• I changed the neckline

• I combined the bodice and skirt into one panel

• I extended the lining

• I moved the zipper from the back to the side for a cleaner finish

• I shortened the dress

• And finally, I added feathers along the hem

The project itself wasn’t technically complicated, but it was definitely time consuming. Most of that time went into sourcing materials rather than sewing. When I started, I couldn’t find feather trim, so I ended up buying individual feathers from a local store instead.

Making the feather trim by hand was tricky. Not all the feathers were usable. Some were broken, others too small. In the end, I managed to buy around 40 feathers, but honestly, I think almost double that amount would have worked much better to create a fuller hem. Still, once everything was attached, the result turned out beautifully.

If I were to remake this dress, I would probably change the approach to the feather trim or buy it ready-made. But I’m glad I tried. It was a learning experience, and that’s part of what makes sewing projects like this so rewarding.

I also shared a step-by-step YouTube tutorial where I show the entire process, from pattern modifications to sewing satin and attaching the feathers. It’s a great example of how you can adapt patterns you already own and transform them into something completely new.

In the end, this dress gave me exactly what I wanted: an evening dress for special occasions, something timeless, intentional, and inspired by a moment and an artist I truly admire.

I hope you enjoyed reading about this project. If you’d like to see how the dress came together step by step, you can watch the full sewing tutorial on my YouTube channel.