Irish national costume

Each nation has its own traditional national costume. In the world, not to find any similar outfit. What is the national dress of the Irish?

The Irish national costume is one of those traditional variants of national clothing, which causes many disputes and doubts. In fact, for about 300 years there is no such garment - this is history. In the modern world, it can be found only in various theatrical performances and as decorations for dancers performing folk dances.

The history of the formation of the national dress of the people of Ireland can be traced from about the 6th century. Initially, the Irish people wore long linen shirts, over which they wore woolen cloaks of a spacious floor-length cut. The main distinctive feature of such raincoats is the presence of a voluminous hood.

The richer sections of society could afford to wear another shorter over a long shirt. The second shirt was predominantly made of fine linen or even silk. The peculiarity of the second shirt, which emphasized the status of a person in society, is embroidery of varying complexity at the top of the garment. At the same time in the country there was a ban on the free use of various color combinations in embroidery. Almost every Irishman was indicated exactly what colors and in what quantity he could use in his robes.

Such gradation directly depended on the position of a person in society, as well as on the type and scope of his activity. Accordingly, the clothes of rich people had brighter and more colorful elements that distinguished them from the rest of the mass.

Over the centuries, the costume of the Irish became more European.

As a result of the various changes that the indigenous clothing of the native Irish people underwent, the traditional style of the national costume was almost lost.

First, there are pants, as the main element of the national costume. At the same time they entered the life of the Irish thanks to navigators. Over time, the sweater became another characteristic element of the Irish national costume. Its appearance, in fact, is due to the characteristic cool moist air and the climate of this region. The sweaters of that time were white or gray, knitted by hand. Their distinctive feature - braids in the form of Aran (from the name Aran Islands, since the history of these sweaters began from these islands). Also, another feature of sweaters is the presence of ornaments that contain the initials or personal signs of the person wearing this type of clothing in their drawing.

Irish culture and traditions came under the large-scale influence of European countries; in particular, the period of English rule in distinctive Ireland played a special role. At that time, bans were imposed on various national elements that filled the culture and life of the indigenous people of Ireland. That is why to this day the Irish national costume has come in a completely different interpretation.

Now he was a more modern attire, characteristic of the general European style:

• monochromatic kilt skirt (most often the skirt was made of orange fabrics);
• white or light shirt without a collar;
• warm loose or baggy sweater;
• an elongated jacket or jacket of dense matter;
• big cloth beret.

It is worth noting that in Irish clothing, which went down in history as a national costume, is characterized by a predominance of bright green.

As with any clothing, the traditional Irish national costume eventually divided into female and male styles.

Unfortunately, quite a bit of information has reached our days on how authentic the outfits for women looked. There is an assumption that the dress of a bright green color was an obligatory element of a women's suit. His style favorably emphasized the chest and waistline, and the flared skirt went down, which could be either just green or striped.

For men's clothes were characteristic two sets of dresses. The first option was a suit consisting of a jacket and trousers. Wearing a black tie was considered mandatory. And the second version of traditional clothing for Irish men was more extravagant, since instead of trousers, the Irish people used kilt stripes or checkered skirts.

The main colors of national clothes of the people of Ireland: green, black and orange.

Today it is extremely difficult to meet a person in clothes, which will be made in the style of a national Irish costume. This style is only clearly seen in modern theatrical studios and dance groups, which mainly perform in the styles of step and keili. The peculiarity of dancers' clothes is in an original combination of history, traditions, ethnic direction of style and modernity.

The dresses are decorated with colorful ethnic embroidery.

The suit is characterized by a tight jacket, a shirt of light pastel shades, a tie and a kilt skirt.