National clothes are an important way of people's self-identification. It reflects the features of thinking and character in the same way as in the language. By the development of the costume, one can trace the changes in the cultural and political life of the people, find out what aesthetic principles were valued by one or another nationality. In addition, they are replete with all kinds of decorations, and they are just nice and interesting to study. The national costume of Italy has one feature. Find out which one from this article!
The Divided Kingdom
In fact, the main feature of the national costume of Italy is that it simply does not exist. The constant change of various tribes that conquered Italian lands did not allow it to take shape.
At different times, the Etruscans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Franks, Goths dominated here, and they all made their own adjustments to the everyday clothes of Italians. Not to mention the fact that until the middle of the 19th century, Italy, like Germany, was divided into many kingdoms, republics and lands, which also did not contribute to the development of a single image of clothing.
Samelike the dialect, the national costume of Italy in each province was different. To this day, three border regions enjoy a special status with a predominance of a foreign language - French, German and Slovenian.
General Features
Of course, there are some features that are characteristic of all varieties of Italian attire. First of all, it is the brightness and variety of colors. This is not surprising - under the generous rays of the warm sun, flowers bloomed not only on fertile soil, but also on the skirts of Italian beauties.
The serene blue sky, mild climate, sparkling sea gradually honed the character of the inhabitants of the peninsula, giving the world one of the most cheerful peoples. All this was absorbed by the national costume of Italy. Photos of girls in traditional Calabrian clothes are as energizing as unbridled joyful Italian singing.
In all costumes, great importance was given to decorations. It was also an indispensable element of Italian clothing. Married women were required to wear a hat and a black jacket, unmarried women a snow-white apron, and widows a black one. A male bachelor could flaunt the streets in a red jacket and a green hat with red cords.
The main thing is in the details
Looking at the costume of Italy, the photo of which can be seen in publications devoted to the history of national clothes, you can see that almost all the differences are concentrated in the field of accessories. The composition of clothing is approximately the same everywhere: women wore a long skirt with an apron, a corset and a whiteembroidered shirt. The head was covered with a scarf. Men wore a long-sleeved jacket or vest over a white shirt. Pants were most often narrow and tucked into leggings.
Folk costume of Italy (photo): female
The national wardrobe of Italian women consisted of a long pleated or gathered skirt, a shirt (often embroidered) with wide sleeves and a bodice. This outfit was complemented by an apron, a neckerchief and a head scarf. All these elements can be found in all provinces and lands, but the length of the skirt, colors, embroidery, the presence or absence of lace could differ.
For example, in the northern lands in the Middle Ages, lace was very popular, decorating the outfits of beauties who follow fashion. In the lands bordering Germany, everyday clothing was rather restrained and sparse in detail. But everything was allowed at the wedding: the costumes were decorated with ribbons, plaques, feathers and embroidery.
Costumes of the southern lands: Sardinia
The most diverse national costume of Italy is the southern provinces. The rich ladies of Sardinia, for example, wore dresses made of bright fabrics, mostly red, adorned themselves with many rings - sometimes there could be up to seven pieces.
Poor women never wore more than three rings, and their dresses were practical gray shades, with many pockets for the convenience of doing chores. The differences were also noticeable in the fittings: the buttons of rich ladies were exclusively gold, the middlethe class could afford silver, while the poor made them from simple metals.
The most important detail of a woman's wardrobe was considered a scarf or scarf covering the shoulders. Often it was the result of many years of work of skilled embroiderers and was a real work of art: fine lace, expensive fabrics, dyed only with natural dyes. Depending on the occasion on which this or that outfit was worn, its composition could sometimes be very complex: up to several scarves and skirts at the same time.
To this day, national costumes are sewn by hand from the most expensive fabrics. Its cost can reach up to 10 thousand euros.
The national costume of Italy in Calabria took a lot from Roman and Greek attire. Women's skirts were shorter and fuller, ribbons were woven into braids, a long scarf wrapped around the waist. Another detail was added to the men's wardrobe - a raincoat. Most often it was sewn from black or red fabric.
Men's Italian suit
The folk costume of Italy for men was somewhat simpler than for women - at least they did not have to put on several pairs of trousers. But it also had its quirks. Usually it consisted of pants just below the knee, a white shirt with simple embroidery and a jacket or sleeveless jacket. The traditional headdress - berrita - was sewn from black or red wool.
Pants could be of different lengths, but they were always tucked into leggings. One of the obligatory elements was a ragas - a piece of fabric that was wrapped around the waist over the trousers. Frontpart of the jacket was usually decorated with rich embroidery.
In Sardinia, a men's suit could include up to ten items. Instead of a cap, the men wore a kind of cap that hung to one side or gathered into folds at the back, resembling a beret.
National costume today
At the present time, national clothes on Italians can only be found at catholic or folk festivals. This nation greatly honors its traditions and gladly uses every opportunity to remind itself and the world of its colorful history. Adults and children put on national clothes and take to the streets. Little fashionistas are especially fond of such holidays, because the costume of Italy for children is no different from the “adult” versions. Except in size.
The costume of Italy, the photo of which you will find in this article, has many variations. It is simply impossible to cover all of them, since each region, even each village, had its own distinctive features in the manner of dressing. No wonder Italy has become the birthplace of high fashion.
