History of the Holoku Dress:
A Holoku dress is a traditional Hawaiian dress worn during formal occasions. It originated in the 1820s as an every-day dress when Christian missionaries arrived in Hawaii and was adapted from traditional European garments for Hawaiian upper class women. The Holoku gown incorporated small changes over time that reflected elements of current fashion, eventually adding a train to the standardized style in the 1870s. Later it became a garment used for formal Hawaiian cultural events, worn traditionally by Hawaiian-born women.
Features:
The Aloha Holoku Dress fits into a fashion time frame from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. I spent many pleasant hours researching vintage Holoku dresses, and my favorite dress from the World War II era became the inspiration for this pattern. The pattern features a sweetheart neckline, puffed sleeves or shoulder ruffles, optional princess seams, and a lushly ruffled train. During the 1970s a revival of 1940s elements cycled back into fashion with a few twists, and I’ve incorporated those features into the pattern to create an authentic 1970s era dress as an additional option. I hope everyone who sews this pattern enjoys playing with the many possible combinations and dreams of warm beaches and soft tropical breezes (and maybe some disco music, too). Aloha!
This pattern also has some extra personal meaning for me. This pattern is dedicated to my new daughter-in-love Kaleigh Lokelani, who has special roots in Hawaii and in our hearts. It’s so exciting to have a girl in the family after living in an all-male household! Aloha Sweetheart!
Some Notes on Fit:
When you print this pattern, check to make sure that the scale is correct by measuring the 1” square scale on each page. Set the page margins on your printer to narrow and the print scale to none. When you begin sewing pay special attention to the size of your seam allowances. This pattern was sized to fit snugly, and accurate seams are important to achieve a good fit. This pattern was sized on a recently purchased American Girl Doll (Chest: 11”, Waist: 10-1/2”, Hips: 12-1/2”). If your doll is smaller/larger, you may need to make adjustments to the pattern for an optimal fit. The most critical measurements are the chest and waist.