Kazakh national costume

The Kazakh national costume began to take shape about 5-6 centuries ago. It was at this time that the identity of the Kazakhs can be called formed. She was reflected in the national dress of this people.

The modern version of the Kazakh national costume was not only formed for a long time, but also constantly changed. The peoples neighboring with the Kazakhs strongly influenced the local fashion. Tatars, Russians, Central Asian peoples have made their contribution. But at all times, Kazakh clothing has been distinguished by a wide variety of decorative elements and decorations, the smell from right to left, and the border. Embroidery and national patterns served as decoration, in addition, the Kazakhs believed that they protect from evil forces.

The following distinctive features in the Kazakh costume can be distinguished:

• outerwear has a swing character and is always wrapped on the left side. This is inherent in men's and women's suits;
• fitted cut;
• women's costumes are richly decorated with frills, luxurious fringes and borders;
• the presence of high hats, which are decorated with precious stones, as well as feathers or embroidery;
• embroidery reflects the national ornament, is made in the form of lurex, patterned weaving;
• common materials - leather, fur, woolen cloth, felt.

The colors of the Kazakh costume have traditionally been and remain bright and rich. They testify to wealth, prosperity, luxury. These are all shades of green, blue, gold, red, which can be seen in both women's and men's outfits. Elements of national clothes are also used by modern Kazakh designers when creating traditional clothes. They pay tribute to antiquity, so the outfits come out as bright and catchy as before. Especially decorated with rich ornaments.

The fabrics of the national costume of the Kazakhs depend on the degree of wealth of the owner. Brocade, fine silk, soft velvet, valuable furs speak of prosperity. They turned away outerwear, the edges of hats. Woolen and cotton fabrics were widely used.

Both men's and women's clothing has always been fitted. Products traditionally expand to the bottom. Also, bathrobes can be straight, the sleeves are long. For men, wide harem pants are traditional clothing. The cut of dresses for girls and unmarried women is long, fitted, decorated with frills and flounces. Headdresses are cone-shaped.

Kazakhs pay much attention to the wealth of jewelry. They are distinguished by a variety of materials and manner of execution. They are used in all garments. For example, stripes and on dressing gowns, and on shoes, and on hats.

Depending on wealth, metals such as gold, silver, bronze jewelry were used. Of the precious stones, the Kazakhs preferred carnelian, mother-of-pearl, pearls, corals, and colored glass.

Decorations were needed to give originality and highlight the rank of the owner of the costume, they were also independent elements. For people of different ages, marital status, rank, there are different types of jewelry. They also differ on a territorial basis.

Kazakh national shoes reflect the nomadic life of this people. Because of the need to constantly change places, it is dominated by high boots. It is convenient to tuck pants into wide tops for greater preservation of heat.

• Boots for the summer period could be with heels. In the old days, socks were sewn bent. Young girls wore shoes with embellishments in the form of appliqués and embroideries.
• Among young men, a heel of about 8 cm was popular. The elderly wore soft boots without a heel for convenience. Galoshes or leather shoes were worn on top of them.
• Poor people, shepherds wore felt boots with leather soles. The poor were forced to wear shoes similar to sandals, which were leather soles that were attached to the foot with straps.

The national wedding dress of the Kazakh bride bears the complex name Toy Uzatu koylek. It is sewn from expensive fabrics such as silk or satin, organza or taffeta. It always has a Kazakh ornament and delicate embroidery.It is created from beads, decorated with gold cords and ribbons.

Wedding attire, both in ancient times and today, is distinguished by an original headdress. It is called saukele. Such decoration was relevant until the 19th century. Saukele is sewn in the shape of a cone, about 70 cm long. As usual, it is decorated with jewels. For this, coins, corals, pearls, zloty inserts, precious stones, plaques were used.

It is customary to wear a wedding headdress during the first year of family life. Then it is taken out only on major holidays. Saukele is not only beautiful, but also a very expensive headdress. In ancient times, up to 100 best horses were given for him. And the craftsmen worked on such a dress for at least a year. Until now, according to Kazakh legends, it is believed that the richer the bride's saukele is, the happier and more successful her family life will be.

On top of the wedding dress, the bride can wear a camisole. It is sewn to match the dress, it is also decorated with ornaments, coins, stones.

Not a single Kazakh wedding dress can do without decorations.These are bracelets, and rings, and necklaces, and pendants.

From the Turkic tribes, Kazakh women passed on - zhaulyk, a headdress. It was sewn from silk fabric, it could be trimmed with fur. Women wore beldemshe skirts. Dressing gowns or camisoles were worn with them.

Another option is a dress whose skirt was flared. It was called kulish koilek. The Russian costume influenced the creation of another style of dress, zhakh koylek. It used a turn-down collar and the then popular pleated yoke.

Women's outerwear was presented in the form of a shalan, a dressing gown with a warm wool lining for the winter season.

The men's national costume includes a hat, trousers and a camisole. It suggests the presence of a special headdress. This dress resembles the hats of the ancient Scythians and is called murak or ai-yrkalpak.

Bloomers or shalbar-sym are sewn with sheepskin inserts. It protects the skin from friction and makes riding more comfortable. The edges of the pants are tucked into boots.

Beshmet, that is, a Kazakh camisole can be of various colors, is sewn insulated for the cold season and pulled together with a belt. Under outerwear, Kazakhs wear jade - linen sewn from cotton fabric. Silk is rarely used. Over the suit, men put on a fur coat or a long-skimmed robe to protect themselves from the cold.

Men wore two types of shoes: either boots (low heels were allowed), or leather Czech shoes ichigi. Shoes were also decorated with embroidery.

National Kazakh outfits for children are reduced models of adult costumes. They are just as bright, beautiful and rich in decorations.

Today, the national clothes of the Kazakh people have been preserved in the villages. It continues to be worn by older generations. And also it is a source of inspiration for modern designers and fashion designers.