Ukrainian Clothing in History, Social Life, and Art

Abstract

Traditional Ukrainian apparel, the roots of which can be traced back to the times of Kievan Rus, has many stylistic varieties. Its look depends on the ethnographic region, even though a homemade shirt, made of homespun cloth, has always constituted the basis for both male and female wardrobes. The main feature of this shirt (vyshyvanka) is the embroidery on the neck, cuffs, and hem. A girl is supposed to wear a shirt without outerwear, while a married woman has to cover her head with a shawl and supply the outfit with her waistcoat and maxi skirt. Meanwhile, the highlight of the clothing are accessories like belts, jewelry, and headdresses (a shawl or a floral wreath), decorated with ribbons and fresh or artificial flowers, not to mention the abundance of beads and ducats (coins), which determine the women’s status. Men’s traditional clothing is simpler: they resemble the outfits of other Slavic nations but differ in the way they are worn. Thus, there are two main elements: a linen shirt and cloth pants, distinguished by the kind of embroidery.