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We have limited information about tunics in Russia. We know that they were widely worn, but are not sure about the styles or conventions involved. We are not entirely sure what the inspiration for the tunic outfits that we begin to see in Europe during the early-19th century. We believe that is was probably Russian peasant dress.It appears to have been a peasant style that was adopted as a style even in the cities. We are not sure, however just how common tunics were. For city people it seems to have been aind of nostalgic, folk costume. We have no information on the early 19th century. We do begin to see examplees after the introduction of photography at mid-century. A factor in Russia is that peasant dress had some similarity to tunics. And the Russian blouse style influenced tunics in Europe at the turn if the 20th century. Tunics became a popular style at this time in Europe and America. We are not entirely sure why, but we do note consideral emigration from Russia at this time. We see Russian boys wearing tunics similar in style to those worn in Europe. We are not sure yet just how popular they were. As far as we know these tunics were only worn by boys, but this is a perelininary assessment at this time.
We have very limited information about tunics in Russia. We know that they were widely worn, but are not sure about the styles or conventions involved. It appears to have been a peasant style that was adopted as a style even in the cities. We notices boys in Europe wearing tunics. This in the early-19th century seems unrelated to Russian peasant dress, but we have found no actual studies concerning tunics. As far as we know, tunics were worn in Russian for centuries bu peasant boys. This is interesting because it was based on a serf/peasant style, yet middle and upper0class boys seems to have worn them. The boy here is a good example (figure 1).
We are not entirely sure what the inspiration for the tunic outfits that we begin to see in Europe during the early-19th century. We are not sure why this would have become fashionable fvor well to do boys throughout Europe all of a sudden. This was never a style for working-class boys except in Russia and the Tsarist Empire where it was the standard dress for peasants, both boys and men. We also see upper-class Russian boys wearing tunics, but we are not sure if the inspiration was the Russian peasants or the fact that the style had become fasionable in the West.
The tunic or traditional Russian peasant shirt appears to have been called a kosovorotka (косоворо́тка). The name reportedly comes from the Russian phrase 'kosoy vorot' (косой ворот). It mean 'skewed collar”'. It was copmmonly worn by peasants in Russia without any age differentition. We had thought it was boys and men, but sdome sources reoort that women also wore it. There were styles regionaslly. Thete were also duffeebnce for say to day wear and festive occasions. [Guzeva]
At the turn of the 20th cebtury it became known as a Russian blouse in the SWest. It has been called a Tolstoy shirt (tolstovka) in Russia. It recent years with the appears of Pasternsk's novel 'Dr. Zivasgo' as a movie, the Zhivago shirt in the West. The book and movie was banned by the KGB.
We are not sure, however just how common tunics were. For city people it seems to have been aind of nostalgic, folk costume. We are not sure yet just how popular they were. We know they were very common in the country-side. We are lass sure about city boys.
We believe tunics were a style worn for centuries by peasants. It is likely a style dating back to the medieval era, but we have very little information to confirm this. Russian tunics seem similar to garments worn by peasant boys in Western Europe as well. We do begin to see examples after the introduction of photography at mid-century. A factor in Russia is that peasant dress had some similarity to tunics. We have no information on the early-19th century. We see peasant boys wearing these tunics. We also see formal portraits of boys from zffluent families wearing them in the 19th century. We see Russian boys wearing these tunics through the early-20th century. Our Russian archive is limited, but we do not see them after World War I during the Soviet era, in the city. They appeared tio have declined in the country-side, but did not immediately disappear.
We note both tunics and tunic suits. The tunic itself is the principal garment. It is the commo serf/peasant garment. The peasant tunic was a very simple garment with done very similarly throughout Russia. The more stylish garment was the tunic suit.
This included both the tunic and matching pants of some kind. The styling of the fashionable tunic suits were much more varied. And we notice different kinds of pants. When worn with baggy trousers ir becomes a kind of cossack outfit.
The Russian blouse style influenced tunics in Europe at the turn-of-the 20th century. Tunics became a popular style at this time in Europe and America. We are not entirely sure why, but we do note consideral emigration from Russia at this time. We see Russian boys wearing tunics similar in style to those worn in Europe.
As far as we know these tunics were only worn by boys, but this is a perelininary assessment at this time. Some sources suggest rgst women anbd girks also wire them.
Guzeva, Alexandra. "Kosovorotka: How this essential Russian shirt came about," Russia Beyond (September 29, 2020).
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