Woman’s Folk Costume | Torysky, Slovakia

Description

Origin: Slovakia | Spis region | Torysky village
Era: WWII era (circa 1930-1950)
Includes: blouse, dress (vest with attached skirt), apron, cap, forehead lace decoration, lacing ribbon, headdress ribbons
Condition: good; staining to plain cotton area on front of skirt; minor wear to green velvet trim on vest; faint stain on blouse sleeve; other light wear consistent with age; suitable for both wear and display
Measurements (with garments laying flat):
  Vest – across front: 17-19″ between underarms depending on lacing
  Vest – length: 14.75″
  Dress – waist: 29-32″ around
  Dress – total length: 45″ + can be let out additional 2″ at waist
  Apron – length: 31″
  Headdress ribbons: 60″ long
Additional Notes: Traditional Rusyn woman’s costume from the village of Torysky in eastern Slovakia. The skirt is made from heavy hand-printed blueprint cloth featuring a clover motif with five colors. The greater the number of colors the more times the dyer would have had to dye the cloth making it more expensive and naturally less common. The apron is reversible with different blueprint designs on each side. The side with the embroidery on the waistband would have been used on more important occasions and then it would have been turned over for everyday wear. The blouse is gathered and embroidered at the collar and has cross-stitch embroidered designs on the cuffs. It is further embellished with hand-crocheted inserts in the sleeves featuring motifs typical of this region of Slovakia. The vest is laced up the front with a floral ribbon that can be tightened to the desired size. The head is covered by a special bobbin lace and crochet cap that is worn together with a handmade lace band on the forehead. The long handmade ribbons get tied to the back of the cap and hang down the back all the way to the bottom of the dress. The ribbons are secured under the apron waist ties and any excess length should be pulled up to hang over the waist ties as shown in the reference photo above.