Category: Costumes

We continue the series of descriptions of folk costumes taken from the book, now out of print, Il Costume popolare in Italia, by Emma Calderini, published by Sperling & Kupfer, Milano. In this issue, we highlight two costumes from the region of Abruzzi. Click here for the entire gallery

Blouse of homemade fabric with a scooped neckline, decorated with crocheted lace at the neck and sleeves. Bodice of hand-woven fabric; separate sleeves are attached with colored lace and embroidered with gold braiding (see detail). Wide pleated skirt striped at the bottom with bands of fabric and velvet. Small silk apron. Woolen knit stockings. Shoes of black leather. Hair parted at the forehead and braids gathered in the back. A handkerchief of white muslin, embroidered in the corners, covers the head allowing glimpses of the silk ribbon that ties around the head. Gold pendant earrings. Necklace of hammered gold beads. Gold rings with images of saints.

 

Holiday Attire of Orsogna

Blouse of flannelette, decorated at the neck with lace and on the front with narrow pleats. Skirt of heavy wool with velvet appliqués and colored stitching, gathered in pleats at the waist and smooth in the front. Little taffeta jacket, decorated with fabric remnants and velvet. Apron of embroidered silk, hemmed with an embroidered lace border. On the head and shoulders, a shawl of beautiful Damask silk. White knit stockings. Shoes of black leather. Large earrings of wrought gold (see detail).

 

The following photos were provided by Richard Castillo who lives in Oakland, CA, and is very much into Italian folklore and traditional costumes. He has collected numerous pictures of Italian regional folk costumes that he would like to share with various Italian organizations.

Richard says, “It seems as though not enough is done in promoting our folk costumes, and my wish is to bring the costumes to the forefront.” His goal is to promote our Italian heritage by promoting the folk costumes to the Italian American museums and various Italian centers so they can also promote the folk costumes.

Since many IFAFA members are involved with Italian Community Centers, you are invited to contact Richard who will gladly email photos to you from his collection. His email address is <rcastill@acgov.org>. You may also contact him if you have a personal interest in costumes from a particular region; you do not need to be a member of an Italian Community Center to request photos.

We continue the series of descriptions of folk costumes taken from the book, now out of print, Il Costume popolare in Italia, by Emma Calderini, published by Sperling & Kupfer, Milano. In this issue, we highlight two costumes from the region of Trentino – Alto Adige, formerly known as Venezia Tridentina.

Peasant from Merano. Short leather pants, with a light-colored piping. Shirt of common cloth, partially covered by suspenders of green fabric (see detail above), worn over a waistcoat of bright red wool. The short jacket is of heavy wool with wide lapels of bright red wool. Wide belt of brown leather, the embroidery for which is done with an unraveled rib of a peacock’s feather. Wide-brimmed hat of green felt, edged with pleated silk ribbon. Knit stockings. Shoes of embroidered brown leather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woman of Castel Tesino in holiday costume. Linen blouse with simple collar of crocheted lace. Velvet vest with chenille embroidery of gold, silver, and other colors. Over this, a short jacket of black wool. Shawl of damask silk. Very full black wool skirt with small pleats, with a ruffle of red wool (yellow for mourning). The smooth rectangular apron is of woolen cloth, garnished and embroidered with felt appliqués, chain stitch and chenille embroidery. White knit stockings. Black leather flats. The hair, parted on the forehead, is gathered on the top of the head tied with ribbons, or in braids, which are wound at the nape of the neck and fastened with a crown of silver pins. In this case, the hair is adorned with a sort of “halo” of starched, gathered and pleated black lace, which is attached with a ribbon knotted at the nape of the neck. Gold enameled earrings. Around the neck, a delicate gold chain with a pendant similar to the earrings, and several garnet strands tied with wide brocade ribbons that fall down the back to the waist.

Sposo di Loreto nel costume antico / Bridegroom from Loreto in Ancient Costume

Shirt of homespun cloth decorated on the chest with pintucks and embroidery with sleeves gathered at the wrist and closed with a small button. Double-breasted vest of silk with golden metal buttons. Short fitted jacket, of black woolen cloth, decorated with ribbons, cording, abd embroidery. Close-fitting woolen pants. White knit stockings, tied with red ribbons. Shoes of natural leather with appliqués of colored leather and openwork embroidery.

 

Contadina di Macerata / Peasant Woman from Macerata

Blouse of homespun cloth with wide sleeves, quilted horizontally and vertically. Above a first skirt of white cotton, she wears another of deep blue woolen cloth, bordered at the bottom with stripes of vibrant colors. Yet on top of this, another full skirt of homemade cloth or wool with vertical lines, gathered at the waist. Above this could go an apron of cotton or silk, with lines or flowers. The very rigid vest, high in the front, is of embroidered silk held up with suspenders. Flowered shawl, adorned with fringe. Head scarf/covering in printed silk.

We continue the series of descriptions of folk costumes taken from the book, now out of print, Il Costume popolare in Italia, by Emma Calderini, published by Sperling & Kupfer, Milano. In this issue, we highlight two costumes from the region of Friuli – Venezia Giulia. Click here to see the entire gallery or
Montanara dei dintorni di Udine / Woman of the Mountains around Udine
Blouse of homespun cloth. Close-fitting sleeveless vest of cotton, buttoned up the front. Underskirt of cotton, with a border. Over that another skirt, also of cotton, pulled up. The apron is of a cotton print. Knit stockings. The shoes are a type of wooden clog with a toe that points up and a strap of leather. On the head, a scarf of fringed wool.
Continue reading “Costumes Friuli – Venezia Giulia”