Swiss Ladies keep 18th Century Fashion alive

[joyful_molly]

Today I’m writing about something I don’t actually know much about: national dresses. Or rather, cantonal dresses, as we’ll be talking about Switzerland. Each canton - even each district! - has its own historical dress.

What has this to do with 18th century fashion, though? A lot! Many of these dresses have their origins in the 18th century,

Comments

[aletheiafelinea]

Later I recalled this and that I had omitted and can be interesting too. :)

These are costumes from the region I described here. The middle part of the clip (5:00 - 7:00) is special fun. *g*

The guys dancing zbójnicki under the previous link neglected one important element. 3:05 and 3:25 *g*

Here one Englishman writes about folk costumes in a Corpus Christi procession he witnessed and photographed in Łowicz last year.

As for 'still used' aspect, there's one element that's common in many Polish folk costumes, that is a colorful (most often flowery) shawl. Older women in countryside still use it as headscarf, like this. However, recently they are coming back to fashion (CLICK) in cities and among young women: CLICK

The traditional female handicraft in Koniaków on Silesia is knitting of laces, such ones. Some time ago, the artists decided it's high time for some business thinking, and now one can have not only lace tableclothes, but also thongs, bras, tops, and even whole dresses. If you ask how it wears, no idea. Haven't tried. *g*

And if you'd like some reviews of costumes of different regions of Poland: 1 (with the map), 2, 3

I wonder if that's when it all started. Age of fashion enlightment! :)
Or maybe there is a general 200-300 years delay, and in the next two centuries a folk costume will be jeans & T-shirt? :D In one of the sites I've linked, there's explanation that folk costumes formed when the XIX century brought manufactured - that is cheaper and relatively unified - fabrics, sequins and such. Still, I'm sure it doesn't explain national patterns, like Scottish tartan(s).

[joyful_molly]

This looks absolutely awesome! And omg, how cute is that wee girl! *squees*

Ahem. *cough*

there's explanation that folk costumes formed when the XIX century brought manufactured - that is cheaper and relatively unified - fabrics, sequins and such. Still, I'm sure it doesn't explain national patterns, like Scottish tartan(s).

Ohhh... now that's an excellent point! Looks like I have something else to add to my endless list of "things to research". About tartan - I don't think its originas are in Scotland; I think it was more a "common pattern" thousands of years ago in some parts of Europe. Maybe it has something to do with the method/tools of weaving used?

[aletheiafelinea]

Tartan-like pattern would be so old? So far I was satisfied with the theory of clans' identification, but now I'll be wondering what patterns the ancient Europe could wear! :D Coming to think of that, a stereotypical Celt/Gaul wears checkered braccae, indeed. *g*

[joyful_molly]

Here's a good link about the history of tartan:

http://www.scottishtartans.org/tartan.html

checkered braccae

And tweed! Don't forget the tweed! ;)

[aletheiafelinea]

What a warm&comfy site! *purrrr* ^^

Why I thought about Asterix immediately, too... *g*

[anteros_lmc]

Woven check cloth certainly existed for thousands of years right across Europe, which is understandable given that it's one of the simplest patterns to weave on a warp and weft loom. Tartan is a specific type of check cloth associated with the Scottish Highlands. After the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion the Dress Act was passed formally banning the wearing of tartan. The Dress Act was repealed before the end of the 18th century paving the way for the Victorian romanticisation of the culture that the previous generation had tried to destroy. Specific tartans only came to be associated with individual clans, in the early 19th century. New tartans are still being registered today particularly by sporting teams who often have their own tartans.

Tweed is a different thing again. All tartan is tweed of a sort, but not all tweed is tartan, as tweed can be woven in many different patterns. Harris Tweed is protected by an Act of Parliament and has to be hand woven in the Outer Hebrides in order to receive the designated orb mark.

Bet you really wanted to know all that ;)

[aletheiafelinea]

*extricates herself from under the tartan pile* 'Course, Ma'am! *g*

the Victorian romanticisation of the culture that the previous generation had tried to destroy. Specific tartans only came to be associated with individual clans, in the early 19th century.
Somehow I'm not very surprised... The second case of XIX-age make-up of the older history I've come to know only this week. I'm curious if our pre-Romanticism ancestors would recognize a half of what we 'know' about their world. :)

[anteros_lmc]

I'm curious if our pre-Romanticism ancestors would recognize a half of what we 'know' about their world. :)
I blame Sir Walter Scott! He has a lot to answer for when it comes to the 19th century Romanticisation of Highland Scots.