Spanish costume

With the help of a Spanish costume, you can emphasize the national characteristics and flavor of Spain. It is an ancient country of Phoenician origin, formerly called Iberia. It is located on the Mediterranean coast and was under Roman rule for a long time, and then converted to Christianity.

Spanish costume became fashionable in the 15th century. It was the Renaissance that dictated its own terms. Then the chivalrous ideals, the customs of kings and the severity of the Catholic Church, for which everything was sinful, were in vogue.

Natural and proportional shapes were important in clothing, but they were hidden as much as possible from prying eyes so as not to succumb to temptation. At this time, at the noble court of the Habsburgs, the term "Spanish fashion" appeared, which was later adopted by many royal families of Europe. For noble persons, tailors sewed frame, voluminous and heavy suits. It was difficult to wear them, since they covered almost the entire body and impeded movement. There was no freedom in women's clothing.

The triangular suit resembled a case in which a woman was hidden. According to legend, this style was invented by the Queen of Castile, Juana of Portugal, so that no one would know about her pregnancy. Thanks to the royal invention, Spanish women wore rich and luxurious dresses for many years, which were uncomfortable and bulky.

Spain has become a trendsetter in European fashion. The clothes of the representatives of the royal court of the Renaissance had its own characteristics:

• The figure and silhouette resembled a triangular frame.
• Dresses were sewn with a bodice and a tight, closed corset to hide the natural shape of the chest.
• In front, the bodice was in the shape of an oblong cape. The frame was created from bent metal wire, which was sheathed with expensive fabric.

• Two tight skirts were attached to the bodice. They were sewn from taffeta and were parallel to each other.
• The upper skirt had a V-neck and the lower skirt had metal hoops. Skirts were thrown over each other.
• An outer dress with a slit was thrown over the skirts. It was fastened with loops and tied with a bow.
• The dress was decorated with pearls and a net into which gold threads were woven. All of this was used as inserts.

• With the help of a corset, the waist was narrowed and the abdomen thickened. A narrow plate was attached to it, which served for these purposes.
• Women's clothing had long double sleeves, which were sewn from different fabrics. The sleeve had a slit along its entire length and expanded at the bottom, like wings.
• The shoulders were artificially increased with the help of special rollers and upper sleeves.

At that time, women were not allowed to walk with an open neck and décolleté, so the collar was a real salvation and a special decoration for them. It was round, corrugated and sewn from thin white ruffle. At first, the collar was small - no more than 15 cm, but over time it became fashionable to wear large collars - up to 30 cm.

The outfit was complemented by various decorations, for example, beads, a fan, a belt with a buckle, or headdresses.

The lady wore shoes with massive wooden soles under the dress. They were decorated with an ornament made of nail heads. The thickness of the shoes indicated a sign of aristocracy and nobility of a person. Shoes were made of genuine leather, velvet or satin and decorated with a pattern or embroidery. They were not supposed to peek out from under the dress, except for wooden shoes that could be seen ankle-deep.

The strict etiquette of Spanish society in the 16th and 17th centuries dictated its conditions not only to clothing, but also to material:

• At that time, bright, colorful patterned fabrics were common. Silhouettes of animals, religious symbols and heraldic signs were used as a drawing.
• The color scheme was varied. The clothes were dominated by black, brown, gray, white, red, purple and green colors.
• Clothes were additionally decorated with golden threads, cords, ribbons and brocade lace. All this was sewn onto the suit in a different direction.
• At the end of the 16th century, smooth monochromatic textiles were in vogue.

Ordinary girls preferred to dress differently from noble ladies. They had a different fashion that formed the basis of the traditional Spanish folk costume. We can judge about this by the paintings of the famous Spanish artist Goya, who used bright colors and unusual lighting in his work. He is one of the first to sing the praises of the woman Mahu - a city dweller who is the prototype of the famous Carmen.

The clothes of ordinary women of the middle of the 17th century consisted of the following elements:

• Women wore colorful dresses without corsets and did not use metal frames for skirts. The bottom of the dress had large folds and fluttered freely in the wind.
• The shirts had a bodice and a lace-up bodice. The sleeves tapered downward. They could be rolled up to the elbow or completely removed.
• A fitted jacket was worn on the dress.

• A rectangular ridge was considered an important attribute. Their hair was pinned up. The ridge was carved, 20 cm high, with several teeth. It was made of ivory or turtle shell. Women in the provinces wore this hairstyle.
• The mantilla was a special decoration. This was the name of the long lace veil, which was worn on the comb. The light mantilla was worn by unmarried girls, and the black one was worn by women. For special occasions, they wore a long veil that completely covered the entire back. In dances, the veil was not used, or there was a shortened version of it.

• The outfit was complemented by a folding fan. It was a real work of art, as it was made by hand. The base of the fan was made of wood. It was covered with silk, velvet or soft leather. Some of the fans were decorated with lace.
• In a woman's costume, details were important: large earrings, flowers and hair combs.

Years passed, and the Spanish outfit was transformed: some elements of the townswoman were no longer worn at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. For example, the mantilla and the comb, called peineta in Spanish, became part of the royal dress. Now these details are perceived as historical: they can occasionally be seen at national holidays, carnivals or weddings.

National Spanish costume is part of the culture of Spain. Each region of the country has its own peculiarities of clothing:

• In the south, in the countryside, the Spaniards dance flamenco. When people hear this word, they imagine the image of a passionate woman in a red outfit. Flamenco was created and passed on to other generations by the gypsies of Andalusia. They preferred to dress expressively for the dance to emphasize every movement. The dancers have a narrow waist and layered skirts, with ruffles and draperies. Their hands are open or fully closed.
• In the center of the country, girls wore traditional Spanish dresses or a shirt with straps, on which a short, light jacket was worn. The head was covered with scarves or capes.

• In Valencia, a woman's costume consists of a light-colored silk dress with an apron. On the head there is a thin openwork kerchief with a pattern, which is fixed at the back with a bow. The outfit is complemented by light stockings and low-heeled shoes.
• In Catalonia, girls prefer to wear open skirts with patterned aprons. Their figure is accentuated by a white lace bodice, and the shoulders are covered with an openwork shawl. Thin gloves are put on hands, reaching to the elbow. On the head is a mantilla.

• The outfit of the women of Galicia consists of a long-sleeved blouse and a flared red skirt with longitudinal dark velvet stripes. A small or large apron with lace and beads is put on the skirt. A delicate shawl is thrown over the shoulders. The head is tied with a scarf.
• In the north of Spain, the national women's outfit is in soothing shades and with a modest pattern.
• The costume of the women from Haute Aragon has a cream shirt with a lush sundress.
• In Lower Aragon, festive clothing consists of a short pleated skirt, an apron and a short-sleeved blouse over which a shawl is thrown.

Spain is a country with a rich culture and tradition. The modern women's national costume has inherited many historical elements. The traditional outfit is elegant with interesting decorations. It is decorated with gold and silver embroidery and multi-colored stones. It can still use ornamented buttons, wide belts and large collars. In a female Spanish costume, the following details are appropriate:

• White or creamy blouse, made of lightweight fabric, with cuffs, ruffles and lace.
• Long, flared from mid-thigh, soft fabric skirt. It can be with or without raised patterns.
• Red dress with several flounces.
• Summer sundress in light colors and with a pattern of large bright flowers. It is complemented by a wide-brimmed hat or scarf.
• Corset in the form of a black vest or lace-up top.
• Details: artificial flowers on the belt, on the hair or on the collar.
• Colorful fluffy fringed shawl.

Residents of a sunny country love to dress in an original and casual way. Their bright clothes with expressive details can create a memorable image and give guests a festive mood.

Flamenco dance, which has become the hallmark of Spain, is loved by many peoples. It is included in the program of many events in order to bring in a piece of Spain and acquaint with its national flavor.Recently, matinees and festivals have been held in various educational institutions, for example, in kindergartens or in schools. By choosing carnival outfits, you can create a beautiful and appropriate stage image. The national Spanish costume for a girl includes all the details of the female image.

There are two types of flamenco costume:

• The first option is a dress with a scoop neckline and ruffles or a multi-layered skirt in a gypsy style. You can wear any blouses or tops under it.
• The second option is a special baht. This is a plain skirt with a long train in the back. Her style depends on the style of the dance. Bata allows you to move freely around the stage, as it does not hold down fast movements. With its help, it is easy to create a spectacular image of a dancing Spanish woman.

The female national costume of the country of Phoenician origin is bright, colorful, with a special energy. It has intertwined tastes, age-old traditions and the identity of the Spanish people. Many girls and women like the image of a free Spanish gypsy who can easily dance in the squares of a bustling city and attract the attention of passers-by.

Romantic natures leave a lot of positive feedback about the national Spanish costume. The girls say that the clothes are perfect for classical Spanish dance and flamenco. She emphasizes every movement of the dancer and her proud posture. A long, fluffy, layered skirt with ruffles does not hinder steps and allows you to easily move around in space.

The harmonious image captivates the audience with passion and beauty, evokes sympathy and leaves positive emotions. The details of the costume add a special flavor: a fan, beads, earrings and flowers, which are attached to the hair or to the collar.

Choosing an outfit, you can give free rein to imagination. Spanish clothing is so varied that it is easy to create it yourself. There is no need to doubt the choice of fabrics: plain and multi-colored options will be appropriate. Correctly tailored Spanish costume will become a part of a whole nation with its rich history.