*** Romanian boys wear -- garments







Romanian Boys' Clothes: Garments

Romnian boys suuits
Figure 1.--Here we have two Romanian boys, presumably brothers, wearing identical smart single breasted suits, They are short pants suits worn with long stockings. Mother seems to have chosen the color of the long stockings to match the suits. The portrait is undated. We might have guessed it was taken in the 1950s, but the boys seem rather smartly dressed for the Communist era--especially the gloves. So it may have been taken in the 1930s or even early-40s. Notice the leather booklets, presumably prayer books, suggesting some kind of ceremony. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We have only limited information on Romanian boys garments at this time. We have nio information on the medieval era. The Ottomons becane a force in the Balkans (14th century, but took some time to extend their control north to Romania (16th century). Thus Ottoman styles affected fashion, including peasant dress. The Russians helped liberate Romania from Ottoman control (19th century). Is it as this time that Western styles were introduced. Romanian was given a German monarchy which affected clothing tyles, including boys clothing. Gradually we see European styles apparing in Bucarest and the major cities. As a result, we see typical European styles in cities by the 20th century, especially after World War I. It would be difficult to identify Romanian children by the clothing worn, except for the rural children wearing peasant styles. Peasant styles persisted in the country side which over time began seen as folk styles. Romania was aklargely agricultural country, thus styles in the country side were of some impotance. We see these peasant or folk styles as late as World War II, bur rapidly disappeared after the War. After the War the Soviet Union oversaw the establishment of a People Republic meaning Romania became a Stalinist police state and a part of the Soviet Empire. Russia became a fashion influence rather than Germany. A major factor was Communist economic failure which affected the ability of Romanians to dress well. This changed with the fall iof Communism (1989). Romanians today dress in the standard pan-European styles common throughout the Continent, although low income levels continue to affect fashion.

Folk Costumes

Romanian folk costumes or folk clothing has remained unchanged for centuries. We are not yet sure about the origins and the time line here. Thereseem to be some similarities with peasant styles throufgout the Balkans. Some of the outfits seem to show a Turkish influence, but we are not yet sure how the Ottoman era affected folk costumes. The basic garment for both men and women is a shirt or chemise cut similarly. It is traditionally made from hemp, linen, or a woollen fabric. It is only in the 19th century that inexpensive coitton fabrics become available. The basic shirt or chemise was secured around the waist with a destinctive fabric belt. The basic shirt/chemise did vary in length. Women wore the garment long at ankle-lengths. Men tended to wear short lengths ahd with pants or leggings fashioned from fabric strips. Women wear an apron over their chemise to protect the garment below the waistline. These aprons vary somewhat. Im nuch of Romania this apron was a simple cloth worn at the front of the skirt with a waist band. In Transylvania and the southwest it is common to wear two of these aprons with one protecting the back of the chemise. As is common with folk costumes, there were no destinctive garments for children. A HBC has noted that one element of folk costume in Romania and the Balkans were strap shoes or sandals. We are not sure when this footwear first appeared. We can not yet establish any connection with the strap shoes and sandals that became popular for children in Western Europe and America during the early-20th century.

Europen Styles

The Russians helped liberate Romania from Ottoman control (19th century). Is it as this time that Western styles were first introduced. Until thistime, most oRomanianswore traditional styles. Romanian was given a German monarchy which affected clothing styles, including boys clothing. As in other countries, the monarchy had a substantial impact on popular fashions. Gradually we see European styles apparing in Bucarest and the major cities. As a result, we see typical European styles in cities by the 20th century, especially after World War I. Romanian boys atkeast inthe cities wore the same tandard styles we see throughout much of Europe. It would be difficult to identify Romanian children by the clothing worn, except for the rural children wearing peasant styles. Peasant styles persisted in the country side which over time began seen as folk styles. Romania was a largely agricultural country, thus styles in the country side were of some impotance. We see these peasant or folk styles as late as World War II, bur rapidky disappeared after the War. After the War the Soviet Union oversaw the estabklishment of a People Republic meaning Romania becanme a Stalinist police state and a part of the Soviet Empire. Russia became a fashion influence rather than Germany. A major factor was Communist economic failure which affected the ability of Romaniand to dress well. This began to change with the fall of Communism (1989). Romanians today dress in the standard pan-European styles common throughout the Continent, although low income levels continue to affect fashion.







HBC






Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s] [The 1890s] [The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]



Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks] [Long pants suits] [Knicker suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer] [School sandals] [School smocks] [Sailor suits] [Pinafores] [Long stockings]



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Created: 2:27 AM 7/8/2013
Last updated: 1:40 AM 11/27/2015