TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN COSTUME Exercise 1. Answer these questions: 1. What was the traditional Russian costume noted for? 2. What was the cut based on? 3. What did the peculiarities of the peasant garments reflect? 4. What was the Russian women's costume

TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN COSTUME
The traditional Russian costume was noted for its straight-cut freely flowing lines. The cut was based on the width of the homespun or purchased fabric and accounted for the archaic style of traditional Russian garments: the considerable length of the dress, and especially the long-sleeved women's shirts, worn in some districts. General features included the nature of the decor and the manner of wearing garments intended to produce a "multilayer" costume ensemble, consisting of several garments worn one over the other. All these peculiarities of the peasant garments reflected the original nature of the Russian costume which had retained its main features from the times of Ancient Rus.

The Russian women's costume was based on the "sarafan" (a kind of sleeveless dress). The "sarafan" ensemble became widespread in Russia at the turn of the 18th century and comprised a shirt, "sarafan", belt, and apron. This costume was especially typical of the northern and central regions penetrating with time into the other parts of Russia where it ousted the local traditional dress. In the 18th century it was already associated with the Russian national costume. The "sarafan" was a daily attribute of peasant womenfolk and urban women belonging to the merchant, petty-bourgeois and other sections of the population.

The festive costume of the northern and central provinces was accentuated with pearl earrings and ornaments of golden and silver needlework and mother-ofpearl fixed into the plait.

Exercise 1. Answer these questions:
1. What was the traditional Russian costume noted for?
2. What was the cut based on?
3. What did lbe peculiarities of the peasant garments reflect?
4. What was the Russian women's costume based on?
5. When did the "sarafan" ensemble become widespread in Russia?
6. What can you say about the festive costume?