Russian sarafan. History and modernity

Russian sarafan by its origin, perhaps,is connected with Indian culture. A part of the root of the word "sarafan" - "sara" with the Indian word "sari", which means "piece of cloth" is very much associated. And the very word "sarafan" in translation from Iran means "fully dressed", and from Persian - "honorable clothes".

Forms of the classic Russian sundress came toTo us from ancient times, where people wore long clothes with freely falling lines, expanded hem. It is interesting to note that ladies' suits have been worn for a very long time without underwear, and it is the flared, multi-layered clothing with a multitude of lower skirts that was designed to keep warm during fierce frosts.

Such phenomenon as sarafan Russian folkthe female costume included from ancient times until the reign of Peter the Great, when a significant part of the population was ordered to wear European-style suits. Fashion trends of the time did not touch the clergy and the peasant class, so many samples of clothing, including sarafan, were preserved until the beginning of the XX century.

Russian sarafan was sewn mainly from linenfabrics of varying degrees of bleaching and decorated with national patterns, many of which showed which kind of woman belongs to, or wore the character of amulets. Fabrics or threads were painted in additional colors with the help of decoctions of bark, infusions of grasses, flowers with the use of bread kvass and chemicals, such as alum or vitriol. From multi-colored threads weaved so-called "pestry" - checkered or striped canvases. Later, with the advent of weaving, elegant sarafans could be sewed from brocade, chintz, decorated with woven gold or silver braid, ribbons, silk embroidery.

Today the Russian sarafan is worn mainlyon folk festivals, performances of folk ensembles, although its shape is perfect for beach dresses, children's clothes or an unusual set of shortened sarafan and trousers.

When it comes to how to sew a Russianpeople's sarafan, then there are a lot of varieties of patterns. You can take a detached monofilament fabric (preferably a satin) that is certainly larger than the width of the breast (1.2 - 1.5 times), prisborit to the width of the chest on the elastic band, sew a narrow strap. Or sew a sundress on the basis of a skirt-half-sun with a "belt" at the chest level. After that, the dress is decorated with a vertical bar along the length of the product transfer, a horizontal bar along the breast level and the same finish on the bottom of the sarafan. In some cases, symmetrical patterns are embroidered on the sides of the vertical bar. The summer version of this sarafan can be sewn from lightweight fabrics with a pattern without additional ornaments. In some historical versions of such a sarafan, all the folds gathered on the back panel, creating a peculiar "train".

Russian sundress of more exquisite forms is built onbased pattern of flared dress, with the creation of all the necessary darts and looks like a product with a bodice. The top of the pattern is cut at the level of the armpits, the straps are also cut out. In the sarafan, in the side seam lightning is sewn. This sundress is well-fitting and looks like modern clothes. To emphasize that sarafan is a national costume, in this case it is possible with the help of a narrow embroidery along the hem of the dress. It is not forbidden to sew a sarafan of such a silhouette with a button fastener along the entire length of the gear; In the XIV century, sarafans of this "configuration", called "swings", were common in Russia.

In order to suit in a folk style lookedharmoniously, under the sarafan puts on a blouse with wide sleeves and embroidery on the collar and on the sleeves. The image is complemented by long pearl beads, kokoshnikom. Modern version can be worn with a turtleneck, and a summer sarafan - without additional items underneath the wardrobe.