In Timely Fashion--Fashion in Film: Anne Shirley's Wardrobe

In this movie, Anne and Diana have grown into young women, both taking separate roads in life. Anne is now a teacher, teaching first at the school in Avonlea and then at a ladies college (or highschool to us Americans!). Diana, still in Avonlea, falls in love, marries and starts a family.

The beauty of the costumes in this film is their adaptability to modern wear. The styles of the early Edwardian period, while sometime lavishly embellished, have a cut and style that can still be worn today.

Grey Suit
A three-piece suit set (vest, jacket, and skirt), which is most likely made of wool. The jacket has a traditional pointed collar with a fold-back lapel. The lapels appear to have an inset of a darker grey plush material (I would venture to guess cotton velvet or velveteen). The jacket is fitted by means of darts in the front and curved seams at the back. It does not close down the front, but is open with covered buttons (same material as the lapel insert) along either front edge. There are pocket flaps at the front, about waist level, that have a "v" piecing in the center of the plush material. The back of the jacket has a slightly flared peplum with two buttons at the center back waist right over either curved back seam. The back shoulder seams are slightly slanted. The sleeves are puffed at the cap and the fullness seems to be mostly concentrated at the back of the armhole.

The skirt is pleated at the center back with buttons going completely down the back. Possibly some of these buttons are functional, while the rest are purely decorative. The vest that accompanies this suit is white with a light grey horizontal pinstripe. It is double-breasted with ½" shell buttons. The neckline forms a long "v," and the front is fitted with darts. The back consists of four pieces with curved back seams and a short peplum at the back waist.

Sailor Dress A very cute design; possibly my favorite out of all of Anne's clothes in Anne of Avonlea! The dress is made of a blue and white vertically striped material. The collar is a rounded sailor style with white braid trim along the edge and a navy blue tie (which appears to be of a sheer material). The back of the collar has the stripes forming a "v." The neckline is filled with a horizontal striped sheer tucker that shows evidence of having a piece of boning on either side of the neck. The bodice is plain, gathered at the center front, and buttons down the back. It is separated from the skirt by a waistband. The sleeves are ¾ length with fullness at the cap and cuff. The cuff is 1.5" wide and of white dotted material. The skirt is five gores (three in front and two in back) with the center front gore having the stripes cut horizontally, while remaining gores are all cut with the stripes running vertically. There is some fullness at the center back. A 6" ruffle at the hem completes the dress.

"Romantic" Shirtwaist and Skirt A very romantic and feminine outfit. The blouse is a white dot fabric. The collar is a wide, rounded "Peter Pan" style, edged with ruffled lace. The bodice has a wide, rounded yoke with the lower portion of the bodice gathered at the front and also in the back. It buttons down the front. The sleeves are ¾ length, eased into the cap and very full at the cuff (most of the fullness is concentrated toward the back of the sleeve). The cuff is edged with ruffled lace. This shirtwaist is paired with a cream skirt, fashionably gored, fitted at the hips and widening towards the hem (similar to a "trumpet"-style skirt to make it flair at the hem). There are tucks at the hem. A simple yet attractive ecru pointed belt finishes off the ensemble. The belt is boned and secures at the back with a buckle.

Vest Outfit
This is a three-piece outfit consisting of a shirtwaist, vest, and skirt. The blouse is white with light grey dots. It has a stand-up collar, which forms a "v" at the upper edge and opens down the center front. A bar pin securing the collar and a taupe ribbon forming a bow give the collar a more special air. The sleeves are gathered at the cap and cuff, with the cuff being around 2.5" wide. It is hard to see how the bodice is treated, but it most likely has some fullness. The shirtwaist closes down the front with buttons.

The vest is of a grey and taupe plaid and is fitted with darts. It is pointed at the front waist and straight across the back. The vest is secured down the front with six taupe buttons. The skirt is made of a plain brown cloth (likely a medium weight wool or heavy cotton). It is six gores with fullness at the center back and has three large tucks at the hem. It is hemmed at a comfortable walking (or cycling, for that matter!) length.

Let me talk for a moment about this outfit and its wearability for a modern woman. This style of ensemble (shirtwaist, vest, and skirt) was popular at the turn of the last century for the very reason that it was easy to care for (because it was three pieces, one didn't need to launder the whole thing at once), very versatile in that you could change pieces of the outfit to create a new look, and practical. I would not think it amiss to wear something akin to this outfit today. Practical, sturdy fabrics make for a lovely, feminine design that stands up to repeated wear and tear and is tough enough to withstand the dirt and grime we encounter day-to-day.

Brown Suit
A rich, deep earth-brown suit that is a fashionable cut for the early years of the 20th century. The jacket has a wide turn-down collar and lapel, faced with the jacket fabric. It is open down the front to the waist, secured with two buttons, then open below. Darts shape the front, running from below the bust to the bottom edge of the jacket. The back of the jacket is shaped with a center back seam as well as curved seams. It has a full peplum as well. The sleeves are puffed at the cap and fitted at the wrist. The skirt is made of the same fabric as the jacket and is gored with a slight train. [Editor: Note the two very different effects achieved by a simple change of shirtwaist and accessories. Same suit, second verse!]

Site contents copyright In Timely Fashion, 2003-2007.
Written permission required to reproduce anything contained herein.


Grey Suit	Sailor Dress	"Romantic" Shirtwaist and Skirt	Vest Outfit	Brown Suit