Welsh Costume

The Welsh National Costume

The costume regarded as national dress is based on clothing worn by Welsh countrywomen during the early 19th century. It was a striped flannel petticoat, worn under a flannel open-fronted bedgown, an apron a shawl and kerchief or cap. The BEDGOWN – had a short front, long back and short sleeves ans was a practical jacket. The cloth was often of dark wool with blue or red stripes. A small scarf was worn around the neck. Separate cotton sleeves were worn as required. Some women wore a cloak over this when necessary – blue being more common in Wales than red. The SHAWL was an important part of the costume. These were normally large squares of black, cream or grey wool, sometimes checked. Another sort of shawl was used to carry a baby (siôl magu) leaving the women's hands free to work. This was worn diagonally from one shoulder with the baby on one side. Fine brightly coloured cotton or silk shawls like the Paisley pattern were worn as 'Sunday best'. Red shawls worn by women during the French invasion at Fishguard in 1797 are now rare. The APRON was normally of wool, often of white or grey checks or stripes dark background. Knitted stockings were sometimes worn by the women and the beginning of the 19th century these has no foot, They were hooked around a toe. Rural women often walked in bare-feet, but may have worn sturdy leather boots or wooden soled clogs with leather uppers. The tall 'chimney' hat didn't appear until late 1840's and may have been based on an amalgamation of and a form of high hat (worn during the 1790-1820 period in country areas) and men's top hats. The hats worn in north Wales generally had a slightly shorter crown and straight sides- most of these were made by Welsh hatters.The crowns of the hats worn in south and south-west Wales were slightly conical in shape and most were made by Carver and Co of Bristol or Christys of London and Stockport. The Welsh hat seems to have been worn (with a full Welsh costume) only by the wives and daughters of successful farmers when attending chapelor church, at special events such as Royal visits and eisteddfodau and when selling their wares at market. The Welsh hat seem to have started to go out of fashion during the 1860's,. A few women continued to wear them until the revival of the Welsh costume during the 1890's. Most 20th century tall Welsh hats were made of cotton and card and were worn by members of folk dancers and women's choirs and at special events. The hats now worn by girls on St David's day are made of felt.