French national costume

The culture of another country is always of great interest to art lovers, travelers, and even ordinary people interested in different cultures. National costumes of different nations are a vast topic that can tell about the traditional features of the inhabitants of a particular region.

The main features of the French national costume began to form in the distant 16th century. These were the prerequisites of corrugated collars, shortened men's trousers, cloaks, lace details and a variety of embroidery.

More clearly, elements of the traditional costume of France were formed more as early as the 17th century. Long shirts, ruffled skirts, stockings, trousers, neckline, etc. came to the wardrobe. Clothing was made from materials such as wool and canvas of various designs. This continued until the end of the 18th century.

After the Great Revolution in France in the national costume began to change. It was connected, first of all, with the growth of welfare, as well as with the appearance on sale of new factory fabrics - cloth and silk.

So there were holiday dresses, of course, they were influenced by urban fashion. The shape of the apron, skirt, headdress, and the cut of the corsage differed among the provinces. This was especially noticeable in the color elements. Even within the province, costume elements were often distinguished.

Among the colors for clothing predominantly calm and restrained shades prevailed. Among them are gray, brown, white. These colors were typical for both male and female costume.

In peasant clothes, a thinner canvas was used mainly for holiday clothes, such as skirts or shirts, as well as linen. The rough canvas was intended for casual wear.

After the revolution, the usual materials were replaced by factory fabrics, among which was silk.

The national women's costume consisted of a skirt with numerous assemblies, a wide jacket with long sleeves and a buckle at the collar and a scarf or kerchief draped over shoulders. The skirt, as a rule, was long, approximately to the middle of the shin, with a jacket worn down, falling from the top of the skirt. Kofta braced at the waist with an apron ribbon, which was a little shorter than the skirt. The scarf was tied on the chest or lay under the bib of the apron.

The traditional male costume of the 19th century consisted of the following clothes: pants, shirt, leggings, neckerchief, vest or jacket.

Until about the 1930s, peasants wore short pants up to their knees, along with leggings or woolen stockings, which were tied under a knee with a wool garter, usually blue or red. Often the leggings were of the same material as the pants.

The shirt entered everyday life at the end of the 18th century. She was straight silhouette, about mid-thigh, with assemblies on the sleeves and the gate. She sewed from canvas.

Initially, the shirt was a festive clothing for the peasants, and after the revolution of 1830, it began to be worn in the city by artisans and workers. For the peasants, it still remained a traditional dress for holidays and folk festivals.

In the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the shirt already became working clothing, but still retained its position in the countryside. In winter, shepherds wore a wide cape of goatskin or coarse fur on top of it.

If we talk about the headdress, then in the 18th century it was a triangle for a peasant, she was worn until the beginning of the 19th century. She was replaced by a round wide-brimmed hat, a straw one - for summer, a felt one - for cold weather.

Children's costumes at that time were not much different from adults, everything depended on the sex and age of the child.

For girls - a skirt, were possible and shorter options than for adults. The skirt was supplemented with an apron and a shirt, the cap was obligatory.

For boys - shortened pants, elongated shirt and vest. Together with the pants they put on gaiters, the head-dress was similar to the adult male.

Traditional shoes - shoes, carved out of wood. These shoes were designed for both men and women. It was worn for a long time.

Openwork sleeves from elbow to wrist - another one of the accessories that is inherent in the fashionistas of that time. Various hairpins that hid under the headgear looked elegantly on the fair sex.

In the modern world, residents often try to revive traditions, arranging various festivals and recreating events, also organizing costume contests.

Of course, mostly traditional costume is worn by artists or patriots at festivals. So, residents demonstrate the originality of their area.

In modern models there are brighter extravagant shades, new forms and details.