Folk costume represents the whole identity of the culture of a certain nation. In the cut of the garment, the secrets of craftsmanship accumulated over the centuries, passed down from generation to generation through the female line, are used. Embroidery always has its own history, and the colors of clothes are not chosen by chance. Various types of decorative art are reunited in the costume. It is thanks to the old style of clothing that you can plunge into history, imagine how people lived hundreds of years ago.
Russian folk costume brings us information about the life of ancestors, about their aesthetics, way of life and worldview. Here we see the material used by our ancestors for tailoring (usually linen, cotton), embroidery patterns. It is worth paying attention to the style of clothes. To this day, the Russian costume inspires couturiers to create modernized national dresses. The basis for the outfit for both men and women was a shirt. She had a tunic loose fit. The guys combined a shirt with ports, which were sewn from straight panels with a gusset. Pants were fixed with a belt. Shoes, as a rule, were chosen according to the season: bast shoes were worn in spring and summer, andin the cold period - boots. The woman's outfit was brighter and more layered. In everyday life, the girl put on an apron over her shirt. If a solemn event was expected, the mistress of the house did not forget about the embroidered sundress and headdress.
The image of the inhabitants of the peoples of the north and south differed significantly. So, for example, southerners were distinguished by brighter and more unusual clothes. The cut of the shirts was more complex than that of the northerners, and the material for sewing was light, thin. The embroidery of different regions also had a difference. The pattern of threads on the fabric was embroidered not just for beauty. The ancient peoples were sure that the pattern on the hem, along the hem of the sleeves and collar protects a person from the evil eye and damage.
Folk costumes carry not only historical information about how fashion changed and developed in Russia, but also demonstrate all the skill of craftswomen of that time. So, for example, the groom, choosing a bride for himself, paid attention to her dowry, which she embroidered for herself. One of the most important parts of the image of a Russian beauty was a sundress. The more beautiful, richer and more skillfully embroidered a sundress, the more worthy the girl was. Expensive silks and velvet for the dresses of the heirs could only be purchased by rich merchants, while the poor from the people were content with chintz and linen. Young ladies kept their luxurious sundresses for special occasions and showed them only at an engagement or wedding.
The folk costume of the Russian peasant was distinguished by its simplicity and versatility, but our people have neverlost face and dignity. With their dress, our ancestors emphasized their belonging to Russian nature, personified themselves with animals and birds. This can be seen in the embroideries on shirts, which depict swans, ducks, birches in the form in which they were artistically represented by people.
Russian folk costume has a great variety of variations. It often changed, but truly national patterns and styles have been preserved in our memory to this day. Currently, you can buy a folk costume, similar to what the inhabitants of Ancient Russia wore, in special stores. Fortunately, samples of it have survived to this day.
