Czech national costume

A bit of history
Peculiarities
Outfit Description
- For men
- For women
Modern models

There is no uniformity in the national dress of the Czech Republic. In regions far from each other, different traditions are observed. It depends on the history of each individual region. Today, the Czech national costume can only be seen in folk ensembles and folklore musical groups.

A bit of history

The traditional costume of the Czech Republic quickly faded into the background. Settlements actively interacted with the city, where European trends quickly entered. Therefore, it is remembered and worn mainly in remote villages.

In the wardrobe of Czech women there were kosile - shirts, snerovacka, which means corsets and bodices - zivutek. From below, women wore fluffy skirts with aprons.

Long men's trousers, nohavice, are still part of the folk costume today. The second version of the pants is gate. From above, wide shirts without cuffs with colorful embroidery were worn.

Peculiarities

The Czech costume is distinguished by the presence of a long shirt worn by both men and women. Both those and others were decorated with puffy sleeves. The Czechs did not differ in a rich variety of wardrobe items. Pants and vests were sewn for men, skirts and aprons for women. In winter, everyone wore fur coats or sheepskin coats.

Outfit Description

Czech outfits are distinguished by their variegation and brightness due to national embroideries and patterns.

For men

It was customary for men to wear a shirt, waistcoat and trousers made of wool or leather up to maple length.They tied a scarf around their neck. Everyday clothes differed in that they were very short. The festive one was decorated with tails. On solemn occasions, family men put on caftans. Buttons served as decorations on them.

It was customary for men to wear black or white wool stockings. Shoes were boots and shoes. Heads were warmed by caps with fur or hats.

For important events, the Czechs kept silk vests or woolen sleeveless jackets in their wardrobe.

In winter, narrow-cut pants with lacing decoration were popular. In summer - looser linen.

For women

Czech women also used to wear shirts. They featured gathered sleeves. On top was a bodice or corset, which was laced up.

Wide skirts were popular. Several lower ones were worn under the upper one. In some regions, it was customary to throw a scarf over the shoulders, which was crossed on the chest.

A cap served as a headdress for women. It was customary to starch it heavily. Young girls embroidered linen strips for themselves. In addition, a scarf was tied over the head.

Czech women, like men, wore stockings. For a long time they were red, then they were replaced by white.

Warm fur coats or sheepskin coats were worn in the cold season. They were fitted, decorated with short tails and a turn-down collar.

The costumes of women from the eastern regions of the country were different. As underwear, they wore shirts made of coarse canvas with straps and sleeveless. Another short shirt was worn over the top. It was embroidered and also had gathered sleeves.

It was customary for women to wear aprons. On the belt they gathered in assemblies. The front of the apron was white, the back could be black and consist of a different fabric.A bodice made of wool or silk served as a festive outfit.

Modern models

Both ancient and modern Czech folk costumes impress with their variety. Depending on the historical region of the Czech Republic, you can see different fabrics, decorations, and clothing styles.

One of the most common women's outfits is a white shirt. Sleeves and collars are traditionally gathered into voluminous folds. They are decorated with a lot of lace, making the whole outfit look light and airy.

A corset or bodice decorated with lacing is worn over the shirt. The color of the outerwear is bright red. From below, the woman is adorned with a fluffy skirt of medium length, which is complemented by several layers of petticoats. Due to them, the upper skirt takes the form of a bell.

The apron continues to be a distinctive feature of the Czech costume today. It is also richly decorated with frills, embroidered with the corresponding Czech ornament.

The second version of the folk image is slightly different. Instead of a corset, women wear bright scarves tied at the chest. A cap decorated with lace and beaded stripes, stockings are put on the head.

The main element of the Czech costume is also a shirt. Like the women's, her sleeves are long and puffy. Pants, as in the old days, are sewn from leather or wool and reach only to the knee. The colorful vest makes the costume very elegant. It is customary to wear a scarf around the neck. The head is decorated with a hat with not very wide brim. It is framed with fur, feathers or a beautiful buckle.