Diana Barry’s Pink Picnic Dress

In 1985 I fell in love with an Edwardian ensemble featured in Kevin Sullivan’s Anne of Green Gables.  It was to my 16 year old heart too poetically beautiful for words. For forty one years I have loved Diana Barry’s Pink Picnic Dress.

Laura’s House of Dreams

After recently rewatching  Anne of Green Gables the love for Diana Barry’s dress was rekindled in my heart.

Tomorrow I will mark my 58th trip around the sun. 

So I decided that I wanted to make this dress and I didn’t care if the style was too young for me. 

I also decided that at 58 I really should take the trip to Prince Edward Island (PEI) since I have been dreaming of it since ’85. (After all, they are the same numbers, just in reverse.)

So I am making plans for an immersive tour next summer that will include all things Anne. 

Anne of Green Gables

In the film our heroine Anne first meets her bosom friend Diana at the Barry home for the Sunday school church picnic. 

There are four pieces to the garment.

• Underblouse ~ also known as plastron or guimpe. 
• Overblouse ~ known as a shirtwaist
• Skirt
• Dip waist belt

 

The award-winning period costumes for the film were created by Toronto stage and wardrobe designer Martha Mann. She was faithful to the Edwardian styles, right down to the petticoats, corsets and more. 

Interestingly enough, Mann knew author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The author and her grandmother were very good friends. 

The clothing that Diana wears is in the Edwardian sailor suit style. I had previously written a post chock full of historical details HERE.

Diana’s picnic dress is a pale pink calico. Mann predominately used Laura Ashley fabrics to create many of the garments. In many cases she would use the fabric wrong side out to give the appearance of a softer look. 

The dress was heavily trimmed in cotton rick rack. 

Rick Rack Attack

For some reason whenever I write about rick rack someone will insist that rick rick was not invented until the 1930s-40s-50s…and that using it is not historically accurate, etc. 

I myself like to remember that this is just costuming and it should be fun. 

However, rick rack has been in use since the Regency era. It was often referred to as cotton waved braid trimming.

It was a decorative staple throughout the 19th century.

(These precious wee ones. Did you see the bare feet?)

In the 1880’s it was also popular to do crochet work using waved braid. 

I am completely enamored of the rick rack piecework that Victorian and Edwardian needleworkers did. 

I have a few extant (antique) examples of this wonderful handicraft in my collection. 

Joyfully, rick rack has long been a favorite embellishment and I am here for it!

For this project I began with five pristine vintage packages of white cotton rick rack for a total of 15 yards. I ended up using every last scrap that I have been hoarding collecting for several years. 

The Patterns

The easiest part of this sewing process was the skirt. It was made with Butterick B6537 and sews up beautifully. 

Alterations of the pattern:  I did move my placket to the left side instead of the back for ease of dressing and the length was considerably shortened.

I LOVE this pattern. Long time readers may remember that I have previously used it for my 1890’s Victorian Sporting Outfit.

While the skirt is a good beginner to intermediate project the shirtwaist snuggles right into the advanced level. 

On Instagram I shared several pattern options for Edwardian sailor style blouses including a few historically accurate options. 

I started with vintage Simplicity 6300, view two, for the bodice and sleeves because I had it in my stash. The tie pattern piece that is included was also used but it was altered by shortening the length and angling the ends. 

The collar came from McCalls M8381. The square corners in the back were rounded and the ruffle was left off. 

Fabric: Ode To A Tablecloth

A few years ago J. Crew had collaborated with Liberty of London fabrics to create a line of cotton poplin sheets and tablecloths. This Edwardian era print came in a blue as well as a pink colorway.  It was ridiculously expensive! Liberty poplin generally runs around $44 for a single yard.  I kept close watch as the items went on sale after sale. 

I finally purchased two tablecloths (approximately 3 yards each) for around $40 total. It then sat in my fabric storage closet just waiting for a very special project. 

Diana Barry’s Pink Picnic Dress

Here is a close up of my tablecloth err dress fabric. It’s a bit brighter that the original and the floral print is a wee bit larger in scale. But I think it still works. 

The lace collar is from the 1980s as a wink to the show. 

Now, let me take a moment to say that all of the embellishment was carefully measured, cut out and sewn down. I used a seam gauge (ruler) to insure that each row was meticulously placed. It took over eight hours just to apply all of the rick rack. 

Diana Barry’s Pink Picnic Dress

There is something so delicious in finally having the dress of my dreams. 

You can see how I rounded the collar in the back to match the originally design. 

If by chance I come across eight more yards of white vintage cotton rick rack I will add two more rows to the skirt. But for now, I am happy.    

The dip waist belt was self drafted. You can find patterns for similar designs on Etsy. 

I try to always include an antique element in my historical fashions. Underneath the hidden placket are 5 Edwardian era white china buttons. These were sourced for me by my sweet friend and neighbor, Becky. 

The skirt also closes with a larger white china button on the waistband as well as hook and bars on the placket. The dip waist belt closes with hooks and eyes. 

Diana’s Boater Hat

No well dressed Edwardian would be without a charming chapeau. 

I began with a straw boater hat that I found on Amazon. 

The vintage flowers were carefully removed from a rotting hat that I had found at an estate sale. It was shared HERE. 

The pink double faced satin ribbon had once graced a birthday gift I received long ago. So it seems fitting that it finally found its place. 

    

This ensemble took over 40 hours to create. I am giving a big “Woohoo!” But let me just say that I won’t be working with rick rack again anytime soon. LOL

Tomorrow all of my family will be coming over for an Anne of Green Gables inspired birthday party.

Thank you for being a kindred spirit.

Laura