Woman’s Folk Costume | Zakarovce, Slovakia

Description

Origin: Slovakia | Spis region | Zakarovce village
Era: WWII era (circa 1930-1950)
Includes: dress, jacket, extra bodice, apron, kerchief
Condition: good; minor wear to dress bodice; jacket missing one button; apron has stains; apron ties not attached to apron; suitable for both wear and display
Measurements (with garments laying flat):
   Jacket – across shoulders: 15″ between shoulder seams
   Jacket – across front: 20.5″ between underarms
   Jacket – length: 18″
   Dress – waist: up to 40″ around
   Dress – total length: 41″
   Dress – skirt length: 26″
   Apron – length: 27.5″ (+ 3″ tucked under at top)
Additional Notes: A festive married woman’s folk costume from the Gelnica area of eastern Slovakia. At some point the skirt was shortened and the bodice was replaced to fit better as the owner became more elderly. The original more decorative brocade bodice is included and can easily be replaced back. The bodice that is currently attached was intentionally quite plain as it was designed to be covered by the jacket so there was no need for the woman to use more expensive fabric or embellishments. The more decorative one could be worn with the jacket or together with a blouse, leaving it visible without the jacket. The skirt is made of traditional indigo-dyed blueprint cotton with hand embroidery at the bottom. The striped apron with green wool ties is the oldest style worn in this region and is the oldest element of this ensemble (from the early 1900s). It has been folded over at the top to keep the length correct for the skirt, but could be unfolded if a longer length is desired. The final images show this style of festive dress as it was worn in Zakarovce at the beginning of the 20th century. The image with the sheepskin coat is how it would have been worn in winter and the second image shows the type of jacket included here for warmer weather.