POLTAVA
The Poltava costume is identified as the National
costume of Ukraine. It is worn in the central Kiev region. The women wear
a red velvet sleeveless coat (zhupan) and a matching apron over an elaborately
embroidered blouse and pidtochka and woven wool skirt (plakhta). A wreath
of poppies, cornflowers, daisies and yellow field flowers with coloured
ribbons attached adorn the head. Red coral beads and leather boots complete
the outfit. The men wear embroidered shirts with billowy sleeves and are
tied snugly at the waist with a red sash. It is wrapped with a special
twist so that it hangs on both sides. Very wide dark velvet sharovary and
red leather boots highlight the outfit.
WOMEN
Headwear: All unmarried women throughout
Ukraine wore their hair in a single or double braid. For everyday there
were ribbons plaited into the braid or the braids were worn wound around
the head with flowers tucked in and a ribbon tied at the base. For holidays
young eligible girls wore wreaths with flowers and ribbon attached to the
back. The wreath was made from red velvet and was higher at the front than
the back. Married women were a pillbox type hat with the braids tucked
beneath. For festive occasions they wore the namitka.
Necklace: Red coral beads.
Shirt: The shirt was a length
that almost reached the ankles. The sleeves were much wider than other
regions giving a billowy appearance. The sleeves were just below the elbow
in length and were pulled up above the elbow when worn. Embroidery was
originally in geometric patterns. Black and red were common colours and
later floral patterns developed.
Skirt: In summer floral skirts
of light fabric were worn while in winter they were of wool. Red skirts
were trimmed with three bands of black velvet while floral prints were
trimmed with patterned ribbon.
Apron: The woolen apron
had geometric designs and tied in place with a drawstring. This was covered
with a narrow sash.
MEN
Shirt: The shirt was simple with
a standup collar and a button on the front. It was embroidered around the
collar and down the front. The sleeves were long and billowy.
Pants: Dark voluminous sharovary
pants usually of wool or velvet. Dark wine and dark green were common.
They were covered at the waist with a wide sash.
Headwear: In summer a small
plaited straw hat with a low rounded crown was worn. For winter a fur or
lamb tall cap (kuchma).
Footwear: As was common throughout
Ukraine, postoly (moccasins) were worn for work while red boots were worn
for going out. Boots were made of cowhide or pigskin.
The Poltava region bordered on the Kiev region and
influenced the Kiev regions clothes. There were small differences such
as the men's sash in Kiev was tied on the left. The women's sash in this
region was looped on both sides leaving long ends hanging down.
Info supplied by Kossack's Korner - Jake Kalyta