To everyone’s surprise, in Season 2, Episode 6, Rory allows Emily to arrange her début at the Debutante Ball. A popular society ritual performed from 1780 to 1914 where women wear white ball gowns and gloves, a “Deb Ball” was originally designed to show off unmarried women to bachelors looking for a potential wife. In Emily Gilmore’s world, it’s a way for grandparents to show off their accomplished grandchildren to their high-society friends, an experience they missed out on with Lorelai. Viewers learn through flashbacks that a 16-year-old Lorelai realized she was pregnant with Rory while unable to fit into her white debutante ballgown. What should have been a crowning achievement for the Gilmores—to present their top-of-her-class only child—ended in societal and self-imposed shame due to an unplanned teenage pregnancy. With a fight brewing between Emily and Richard over social obligations, anxiety between Rory and Dean arising from having to learn a dance and wear fancy clothing, and the stress between Lorelai and Christopher over his minimal presence in his daughter’s life, history repeats itself and the Debutante Ball once again doesn’t turn out the way the Gilmores plan.

Distinguish yourself from the other debutantes with this elegant sleeveless top inspired by Rory’s white ball gown. The front and back pieces are worked flat identically with beautiful vines separated by vertical columns climbing upward toward the neck on a background of reverse stockinette. The shoulders are joined with a 3-needle bind off and the sides seamed, and finally stitches are picked up and worked in garter stitch detailing for the hem, neckline, and armholes.