Lithuanian folk clothes

Lithuanian Costume

• Lithuanian Costume is Western style modern

clothes. Lithuanian dress is stylish and decent and

gives a description of Lithuanian society and culture.

As the time elapsed dressing in Lithuania also

evolved and became quite similar to other European

countries. The Urban folk started wearing the

modern outfits whereas the traditional clothing is

worn only in festivals.

Folk clothes for women

• The creation of the Lithuanian national dress began relatively late at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Following the example of most neighboring countries, peasant festive garments were chosen as the prototype.

• In the 19th century, a Lithuanian peasant woman's summer costume consisted of a shirt, two or more skirts, an apron, a waistcoat and shoes. Elderly women frequently wore a short or longer small jacket instead of, or over, a waistcoat not only in cool weather but also in summer.

Folk clothes for Men

• In the 19th century, a man's festive summer costume consisted of a white shirt, narrow trousers, a coarse homespun overcoat, shoes, a hat, a sash belt and sometimes a neckerchief and a vest.

• In the second half of the 19th century, men's overcoats were slowly replaced by frock coats of a similar silhouette but a different make then fashionable in town, while at turn of the 20th century - by short jackets. Also reflective of urban modes and sewn from hand-spun, woolen or half-woolen cloth, a vest was sometimes worn by men under a frock-coat and jacket. They also wore a neckerchief, a diagonally fold square kerchief, which in the middle of the 19th century was usually made of white checked homespun cloth, and was later replaced by manufactured bright silk or wool..

Lithuanian regions

• There are 5 regions in Lithunia and all have different

costumes

• Aukštaitija – Higher Lithuania

• Žemaitija – Lower Lithuania

• Dzūkija- Southeast Lithuania

• Suvalkija- Southwest Lithuania

• Klaipėdos kraštas – Klaipėda region

Aukštaija – Higher Lithuania

Žemaitija –Lower Lithuania

Dzūkija-Southeast Lithuania

Suvalkija-Southwest Lithuania

Klaipėdos kraštas – Klaipėda region

Summary

• Costume has always been its interpretation. The 20th century designers of folk clothes in Lithuania, like in other countries, repeatedly deviated from previous versions of authentic folk garments, sometimes lacking knowledge of the former historical peasant apparel, and occasionally, deliberately altering its form by upholding the current conception of the national costume that was typical of their times.

• Historic investigations of 19th century peasant garments have been conducted, collections of clothes assembled, compositions of festive outfits and features of their constituent parts have been ever revised since the early 20th century, even when Lithuanians expressed a great affection for and appreciation of stylized folk costumes.