The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

UKRAINIAN TRADITIONAL DRESS

THE BASIC COSTUME INCLUDED A BLOUSE WITH FANCY COLORFUL
EMBROIDERY, A COLORED SKIRT, A VEST, BEADS, BOOTS, AND A
COLORFUL HEADPIECE. THE COLOR OF EACH PART, THE MATERIAL,
AND THE DESIGN VARIED WITH EACH SECTION OF UKRAINE. BROWNS
AND ORANGES WERE COMMON TO THE HUTSULS WHILE OTHERS USED
FLOWERY PATTERNS AND REDS. THE BLOUSE, USUALLY EMBROIDERED
ON THE FRONT AND THE LONG SLEEVES, SOMETIMES HAD A VEST.
RED BEADS WERE A COMMON ORNAMENT AND USUALLY OF MANY STRANDS.
THE SKIRT, OFTEN OF A HEAVY MATERIAL, SOMETIMES COVERED AN
UNDERSKIRT OF OFF WHITE WITH AN EDGING. THE BOOTS WERE RED
OR BLACK. THE HEADPIECE, A WREATH PLACED ON THE HEAD,
WAS ADORNED WITH COLORFUL ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS AND LONG
COLORFUL RIBBONS HANGING FROM THE BACK.

Submitter comment: MANY UKRAINIAN GIRLS STILL HAVE THEIR OWN NATIVE COSTUME.
THEY ARE WORN FOR FORMAL PERFORMANCES OF NATIVE DANCES.
VARIOUS MODIFICATIONS ARE USED FOR CHOIRS AND CONCERTS.
MEN AND WOMEN WEAR EMBROIDERED SHIRTS AND BLOUSES WITH
BLACK PANTS AND LONG BLACK SKIRTS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Date learned: 00001950S