This is the dress I saw and photographed. The embroidery was done by hand.
Price - 780 euros. Very painstaking work.
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Irish dance costumes
Dancers wear special costumes for public performances. The costumes are often whimsical interpretations of traditional Irish dress. In competition, there are various rules and traditions that govern the choice of a dancer's costume style.
Competition judges evaluate the dancers primarily for their performance, but they also take performance into account. At each level of competition, dancers must wear either hard boots or soft boots and white socks or tights. At commission schools, dancers must either curl their hair or wear a curly wig, although most dancers wear wigs on festival days. In more festival schools, the hair is often loose and falls loosely over the shoulders. Boys and girls wear very distinctive costumes. Girls wear dresses with stiff pleated skirts that are embroidered. Boys usually wear jackets and plaid skirts, but now more commonly perform in black trousers with a brightly colored shirt. Costumes can be simpler for beginner dancers; they often wear a simple dance skirt and a simple blouse.
The specific colors and logo used on the dresses represent the dance school in order to differentiate the dancers from other dance schools. Most of the dresses are made in the style of solo dance dresses, but they are simple in style and in a certain color scheme. Many North American schools allow their students to choose their dress style.
Competition dresses have been transformed in many ways since Irish dance first appeared. Generations ago, the matching dress was simply a person's usual "best Sunday" dress. In the 1980s, decoratively embroidered velvet became the most popular material for dancers' costumes. Other materials include gabardine and wool. Many different fabrics are used today, including silk and embroidered organza. The dresses include a mandatory pleated reinforced skirt. Dresses can weigh several pounds, depending on the fabric, and take some time to get used to before a competition starts. The festival costume style is different as it is styling over simpler designs.
The Pre and Open Championships are the levels where dancers can qualify for the Main Event. At these levels, solo costumes help each dancer show a sense of style and they allow them to stand out from the crowd. The dancers can either have a new solo dress made especially for them with their own choice of colors, fabrics, and designs (some dancers even design the dress themselves). Dresses for the championship are often expensive, embroidered with sequins, and most often they are designed in one, two, or three colors. Since the dresses are handmade and made from expensive materials and have a unique design, the cost of a dress varies between $ 600 and $ 4,000.
Along with the hand sequined dress, the championship dancers also have wigs and crowns. Dancers at the lower levels have the choice of wearing a wig or curling their hair, but usually in championships, girls prefer to wear a wig as wigs are more comfortable. Dancers get synthetic wigs that match their hair color (some come in a shade lighter or darker). Wigs can range in cost from $ 20.00 to $ 150. Crowns usually match the colors and materials of the dresses, but some dancers prefer to wear tiaras, or tiaras with a fabric crown. Competitions are usually performed on a stage with good lighting. To prevent makeup dripping, dancers often use stage makeup and self-tanning feet.
Since Irish dances are a little less than entirely composed of girls, naturally, the market for tailoring and selling consumer goods for beautiful dresses has developed no less actively than the dances themselves. Sorry, not in the same direction.
What beautiful costumes used to be sewn:
Or here's a simpler suit, but also neat, warm and lamp-like, evoking only positive emotions:
Or, incredibly neat and aesthetically pleasing, I want to come up and run my hand over this accordion made of folds, take a closer look at the pattern on the chest:
Of course, there were also simpler children's options for a more modest wallet, altered from some greatcoats, but simplicity is not bad:
And then something suddenly went wrong. Either all the old designers have suddenly returned home to Mars, or something else, but for some reason the situation has suddenly changed for the worse. And every year the design locomotive picked up speed, rushing down the slope of the mountain of good taste.
At first, there were some vague crafts from cheap materials, some kind of incomprehensible kaleidoscope of colors:
It was all quite a long time ago, and there was a lull for a while. When I started dancing, most of the dresses looked like the last two photos above. And then the United States and Ireland discovered the Chinese market for fabrics and rhinestones, and a few more tons of coal were thrown into the hellish furnace, which is still burning, it seems that a chain reaction has already started.
There is a Vkontakte group Irimoda where Aldoshina, in her free time from stealing my domains, collects the very hells of zvizdets that the dress-making industry only produces. Well, at least that's what I say to myself. Sometimes re-posts from there slip through my feed, I wipe away bloody tears and think, for example: "What kind of dress is this to emphasize the pumped-up chest and shoulders?"
Or here's a pimp's dream:
And here is a video where the dancers dance well, but we don't care about dancing today, we are interested in fashion. We look at a boy with a pink belly and a pink backpack on his back, dancing in the middle.
Sometimes it seems to me that they order: "Make me a suit!" all fashion sellers are not accepted to return money for low-quality goods. So they dance, pretending that this is a great art.
How much Dontsova needs to smoke and Malysheva should be reconsidered so that this begins to seem acceptable:
Why injure the psyche of children in such a way?
These were not taught at school, why does a zebra have such a coloring:
Just a scribe:
Kill me:
Want big shoulders and arms like Arnie's?
What is the cage in the center and on the sleeves? Louis Vaughton bag cut open? Why can't you stop when everything is okay?
Well, discussing attributes is generally a thankless task. The schoolgirls are probably delighted. They will grow up, they will also become designers.
Collective farm, of course, from everywhere or a photo session "How to surprise the audience even more?" I'm sure the super-famous fashion designer Gavin is just incredibly fat trolling the public. I can't allow anyone to make money by seriously releasing such a bloody hell (although the white dress on the left is still nothing):
Competition "Which is Worse?"
Kura (buee):
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Maybe they didn't have such markers in childhood?
Men's suits are another story. But according to the same scenario. If your costume doesn't look like you run a small brothel in Chicago, or like you've just come from a gay pride parade in Amsterdam, then you're a sucker.
All photos are stolen from the above group, so you've probably seen all of them already. Every second dress can be safely thrown out of there. Fortunately, there are really decent options out there, but there are so few of them that they get lost among clone dresses from Elevation or freak dresses from most other designers.
In Russia, they make a very decent design, although they do not always sew very high quality (dresses often fit badly on dancers or behave badly during the dance itself), but the prices of our designers are not boorish yet. In my posts with fashion, I usually try to choose those photos where not only the dancer is good, but also the dress is worthy.
Of course, we also make a terrible design, and such that all of the above will seem childish. I'm not talking about inexpensive independent crafts, we are talking about purposefully sewn from a friend's seamstress according to a unique sketch and promoted everywhere. Unfortunately, for ethical reasons and trite because of fear of death, I will not show these dresses, but who knows me well and so in the know. But maybe someday I will collect enough material and still show it to you. In the end, why not.
Well, yes, my suit is, of course, beautiful. Here, enjoy it some more:
Each ethnic group has its own traditional national costume. There is not a single similar outfit in the world. What is the national dress of the Irish?
A bit of history
The Irish national costume is one of those traditional versions of national dress that causes a lot of controversy and doubt. In fact, there has been no such dress for about 300 years - this is history. In the modern world, it can only be found in various theatrical performances and as decorations for dancers performing folk dances.
The history of the formation of the national dress of the people of Ireland can be traced back to about the 6th century. Initially, the Irish wore long linen shirts, over which they wore loose-fitting, floor-length woolen cloaks. The main distinguishing feature of such raincoats is the presence of a voluminous hood.
The wealthier strata of society could afford to wear another shorter shirt over a long shirt. The second shirt was predominantly made of fine linen or even silk. A feature of the second shirt, which emphasized the status of a person in society, is embroidery of varying complexity in the upper part of the garment. At the same time, the country had a ban on the free use of various color combinations in embroidery. Almost every Irishman was indicated exactly what colors and in what quantity he can use in his clothes.
This gradation directly depended on a person's position in society, as well as on the type and scope of his activities. Accordingly, the clothes of wealthy people had brighter and more colorful elements that set them apart from the rest of the mass.
Over time, the Irish national costume has undergone many changes and has completely ceased to look like its original version.
As the centuries passed, the Irish costume became more European.
Peculiarities
As a result of various changes to which the national dress of the indigenous Irish has undergone, the traditional style of the national costume has been practically lost.
First, pants appear as the main element of the national costume. At the same time, they entered the life of the Irish thanks to the navigators. Over time, the sweater has become another characteristic element of the Irish national costume. Its appearance is, in fact, due to the characteristic cool damp air and climate of this region. Sweaters of that time were white or gray, knitted by hand. Their distinguishing feature is braids in the form of aran.(from the name Aran Islands, since the history of these sweaters began precisely from these islands). Also, another feature of sweaters is the presence of ornaments containing initials or personal signs of the person who wore this type of clothing in their drawing.
Irish culture and traditions fell under the large-scale influence of European countries, in particular, the period of English rule in distinctive Ireland played a special role. At that time, bans were imposed on various national elements with which the culture and life of the indigenous population of Ireland was overwhelmed. That is why, to this day, the Irish national costume has come in a completely different interpretation.
Now he was a more modern attire, characteristic of the general European style:
- plain skirt-kilt (most often the skirt was made of orange fabrics);
- white or light shirt without collar;
- warm loose or baggy sweater;
- an elongated jacket or jacket made of dense fabric;
- large cloth beret.
At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that in Irish clothing, which went down in history as a national costume, the prevalence of bright green is characteristic.
Description of the outfit
Like any clothing, the traditional Irish national costume over time was divided into female and male styles.
Unfortunately, very little information has come down to this day regarding how authentic outfits for women looked. There is an assumption that a bright green dress was an obligatory element of a woman's costume. His style favorably emphasized the chest and waist line, and a flared skirt, which could be either just green or striped, went down.
Two sets of outfits were typical for men's attire. The first option was a suit consisting of a jacket and trousers. Wearing a black tie was considered compulsory. And the second version of traditional clothing for Irish men was more extravagant, since instead of trousers, the Irish used striped or checked quilted skirts.
The main colors of the national dress of the people of Ireland: green, black and orange.
If your child wants to practice Irish dancing, you need to remember two things. First, dancing itself is expensive.
Secondly, half of the costs depends on you personally.
In your first year at any school, you will be asked to purchase dance shoes. Depending on the requirements of the teacher, these can be Czech women,
ballet flats or Irish women. Gym shoes, as a rule, are not welcome (they do not show whether the child is pulling fingers). Ballerinas cost 200-400 rubles, they are enough for 3-4 months,
sometimes longer. Leather shoes (jazz shoes, leather ballet shoes, Irish shoes) can last for a year or two, but as a rule, they lose their appearance after 7-8 months.
There are no special rules at the initial stage of training in shoes. You can both practice and perform in ordinary ballet shoes. Of course the Irish look much prettier
but they are also more expensive - from 1000 rubles per pair, and usually they have to be ordered, they are not available on free sale in Russia.
Each manufacturer has its own model, and if you or your child have a "difficult" foot, you may need to change 3-4 pairs before you find "your" shoes.
In Russia, the majority of them are Irish women, or "softwares", of the Pacelli company, one of the most famous world-class companies. The students of our school are mainly engaged in Boynewalk shoes.
In appearance, all models are similar and differ in insignificant details of cut and texture, little noticeable to prying eyes.
After six months or a year, you will be asked to purchase "hard" shoes. Basic models from almost all firms cost around 80 euros, i.e. about 3000 rubles. They usually bend ploso, you cannot stand in them.
on the toes, the heels are not convex, the heels are not very clear. it is assumed that for the first two years of studying hard dancing this is quite enough, and those wishing to achieve a good level
after a while they demolish these steps and order more expensive ones depending on their specific wishes (more sonorous, or softer, or for a wide foot, etc.) Expensive models
The cost of "elite" boots can go up to 6,000 rubles or more. As a rule, all firms have representations on the Internet, some shoes can also be bought at fashion shops,
where so-called feis shops often operate.
If you can do without Irish women, if you wish, then you will not be able to practice without steps. Boots for American tap or flamenco are completely different, so it is better to order the right shoes right away.
Now many beginners prefer to take used shoes: it is cheaper (a pair costs 1000-2000 rubles), they do not need to be worn out and you will not be mistaken with the size when ordering.
Those who wish (usually those who have been practicing for several years and plan to dance a lot and often) sometimes order dance sneakers, they are denser than soft shoes, but without heels.
Both soft and hard dances can be rehearsed in sneakers, but they are not recommended for beginners, since many of the nuances of the dance technique become invisible or inaudible.
The next expense item is dancewear. You can go to classes in anything, if your school has a special dress code, you will be told this in the first lesson.
Usually they ask to dress the child so that the knees are visible: shorts, short skirts, tight pants, etc. Girls often dance in choreographic leotards with chiffon skirts, as in classical choreography.
It is not necessary to sew a fancy dress to compete at the beginner level. The most convenient option is a blouse or turtleneck with long sleeves and a sundress for girls, trousers + shirt + vest for boys.
In the WIDA commission, children dance in WIDA branded T-shirts, girls must have a green skirt, boys must have a T-shirt + trousers.
For the primer level, the same suit or school dress that you may be offered to sew will do. Usually the school has its own seamstresses, or the parents, together with the teacher, come up with a style and sew on their own,
these are the most ordinary dresses according to standard patterns, only the same for the whole group and, of course, smart. Dresses are decorated with embroidery, or patterns from a lined cord, or lace collars - there are a lot of options,
the rules only apply to the length of the skirt and sleeves. (As well as the absence of cutouts on the skirt, back, sleeves and closed collarbones). A dress can cost from 1000 rubles to infinity.
If you want to sew your child a solo traditional Irish dress (of course, this only applies to girls, boys can only be "decorated" with a variety of ties and vests, or kilts that are out of fashion), then this
it can cost from 4,000 to 20,000. Prices vary greatly, in addition, I know many mothers who calmly sew for their children even the most complex dresses with ruffles and wedges.
Let me remind you that the "princess" dress is completely optional. You will not be kicked out at any level if you dance in a skirt and a blouse, and if you dance beautifully, the seats will be given as expected, according to the rules, you cannot deduct points for the absence of a costume.
Another thing is that everyone wants to show off, and competition is a great reason to sew a new dress!
A full Irish costume for a girl consists of shoes, white socks of a special style (cost about 250 rubles per pair), a dress, panties under a dress (they are often sewn together with a dress made of fabric, for example, lining), a tiara and a wig.
A wig is also a completely optional element and is intended only to save you time, if, say, the competition is early in the morning, and the child does not want to sleep on curlers. The diadem is designed to support the "princess" of the costume, it does not play any other role.
Boys do not wear wigs or tiaras.
In addition to training and equipment costs, there will be an item in your budget for competitions. They usually take place 2-3 times a year (in Russia), and in the first year of study, if the teacher advises you to perform, this pleasure will cost a maximum of 20 euros (4 dances, 5 euros each).
Sometimes schools also exhibit team dances, participation in one costs 3 euros. Of course, the further, the more expensive, because there are more dances, but since the "won" dances cannot be danced, the amount will rarely exceed 2000, at least until you get to the open level.
In total, the initial set of the dancer is:
300 p. ballet shoes
700 p. the simplest form (you can get by with the existing wardrobe)
3,000 rubles stepovka (optional in the first year of study)
2000 p. participation in two competitions.
2000 p. a simple school sundress for performances.
Total 8000 rubles per year.
What other costs can there be?
Firstly, the competition may not take place in your city. That is, plus the road, hotel, food.
Secondly, many schools organize compulsory workshops for their official teachers. For example, Ronan Morgan comes to our school every month, Shane McCavinci and Mary Sweeney to Tyr na nOg, Teresa Rooney to Rooney Iridan. Master classes are definitely useful and are recommended for visiting,
especially if you are serious about it. Classes of foreign teachers are more expensive, Russian classes are cheaper, since there is no need to pay for a visa and a flight from Europe. In some schools this is included in the monthly payment (as, for example, in Mirkwood), in some additional money is collected for specific classes.
Third, many teachers recommend that their students take graduation exams. Usually this is one exam every six months, at a cost from 600 to 1000 rubles (depending on the graduation number, the further - the more expensive).
Fourth, as in other types of dance, students can perform on stage with show numbers. Costumes for them are often sewn at the expense of the performers, in addition, if the ensemble participates in choreographic festivals, the participants are asked to pay a charitable contribution (400-800 rubles per person).
It is clear that it is not a pity to spend money on what you love, and many do not skimp on dresses, trips and participation in master classes.
But always remember: if suddenly you want to study simply because you like Irish dancing, and financial difficulties make you count every penny - do not give up what you love.
After all, in general, it is enough to have a not very leaky pair of ballet shoes. By the way, they can simply be darned.
Green is considered the color of Ireland. Green in Ireland is often combined with sunny red. Many Irish people have naturally red hair. Irish costume is bright and colorful, like summer itself.
"Way back home"
Barry Maguire artist
Ireland is a country with a rich and interesting traditional culture. Irish folk dances are especially famous. And the clothes of folk dancers of any country are always clothes associated with a folk costume.
On St. Patrick's Day, Irish dances are possibly danced all over Europe. And, of course, the USA, where many descendants of Irish immigrants live. The holiday of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, is very popular today. The color of the holiday is green. Green is also considered the main color in Irish folk dress.
Celtic motives
The culture of Ireland is closely related to Celtic traditions. The modern Irish are descendants of the Celtic tribes that once inhabited the vast territory of Western and Central Europe. Of course, in Ireland, as in many other European countries, the adoption of Christianity influenced traditional ancient pagan culture. But, nevertheless, Christianity could not supplant more ancient traditions.
Barry Maguire artist
Any country, including Ireland, is what ordinary people - peasants wore for many centuries. Unlike the costumes of the aristocrats, which changed over the centuries from style to style - Romanesque costume, baroque costume, rococo, and so on, the clothes of the peasants remained practically unchanged.
"Green sleeves"
Dante Gabriel Rossetti artist
Most often, a peasant European man's suit is trousers and a shirt, a woman's is a skirt and a shirt or a dress. But at the same time, the peasants always decorated their festive clothes with drawings - ornaments. Pagan pre-Christian traditions were still preserved in the ornament. These could be patterns symbolizing the sun god, and patterns associated with the goddess of fertility, as well as amulet symbols.
Irish costume designs are of ancient Celtic origin.
From folk clothing to national costume
The folk or national costume of Ireland itself appears in the 19th century, like the national costumes of other European countries. As a matter of fact, in the 19th century, the concept of nations was formed in Europe. And the learned people of every nation begin to actively study the culture, history and traditions of their country. At the same time, much attention is paid to the study of the life and everyday life of ordinary people.
"Irish dance"
In the 19th century, namely in times, European thinkers and artists are no longer interested, unlike in past centuries, the heritage of Ancient Greece and Rome, the history of kings and their victories. During the period of romanticism, thinkers and artists go to the common people.
And on the basis of the folk costume, that is, the clothes of ordinary people, but not everyday, but festive, national costumes are formed. This is the case with the national costume of Ireland.
At the same time, its own difficulties arise. Ireland has long been under the influence of England. The Vikings also visited Ireland in due time, who also changed the traditional clothes of the Irish in many ways. Thus, very little information has survived about Celtic costume by the 19th century.
Kilt bug and fishing sweaters
In the 19th century, the idea emerged that the Irish wore a kilt skirt. Such a skirt is still found in the costume of dancers. The Irish kilt skirt, unlike the Scottish one, is not checkered, but monophonic, most often orange. Today Irish dancers wear a green kilt skirt. But later it turned out that in the 6th-17th centuries the Irish did not wear any skirts.
Vintage postcard for St. Patrick's Day
The men's clothing of the Irish of the 6th-17th centuries was a long undershirt. It was called lane. Rich people wore two shirts. The upper shirt was shorter. It was decorated with multi-colored embroidery. Shirts were sewn from flax. Linen is a traditional fabric for the clothes of ordinary people almost all over the world. In addition to linen, wool is another common material for peasant clothing.
Pants appeared in Ireland during the time of the Vikings. Initially, the pants were made of leather, like the Vikings. Then they began to sew from flax.
By the 17th century, a sweater appeared in Irish costume. Traditional Irish sweaters are called Aran, since it was in the Aran Islands that they first began to be knitted.
There is even a special knitting style - Aran knitting. Aran knitting is knitting in which a pattern of weaving braids and crossing loops is formed.
Vintage postcard for St. Patrick's Day
Originally, Aran sweaters were white or gray (today you can see green sweaters) and were decorated with ornaments with personal marks or the initials of the person who wore the sweater. Originally, Aran sweaters were the traditional clothing of fishermen.
Another element of Irish men's costume today is an elongated jacket or a jacket made of dense fabric, which most likely appeared already in the 18th century under the influence of the costume of the townspeople. Today Irish folk dancers wear either the sweater described above or the vest under the jacket or jacket. A kilt or short pants and woolen striped leggings are worn on the legs. And, of course, an obligatory part of the Irish folk costume - a large cloth beret.
Red celtic cape brat
Another must-have for Irish folk costume is a wool cape with a voluminous hood. A plaid-like cloak has been worn since Celtic times. In the 6th - 17th centuries in Ireland, such a cloak was worn by both men and women. This cloak was called bret. It was sewn from a dense woolen fabric and fastened with a brooch on the shoulder or chest, or tied at the throat with a braid. Such a cloak very well protected from wind and cold. The breta's cloaks were monochromatic - blue, black, gray, but most often red.
Vintage postcard for St. Patrick's Day
Women's dresses in Irish national costume
By the 19th century, even less was known about women's clothing from Celtic times than about men's clothing. Today, women's folk dress in Ireland is considered to be a dress with an accentuated waist line and widening downward. Irish folk dancers wear these dresses in plain green or with a striped skirt. Another element of the female folk costume of Ireland is shawls decorated with a bright border.
Thus, in the 19th century, on the basis of historical data on the folk costume of Ireland, as well as under the influence of the development of interest in folk Irish dances, the national costume of Ireland was formed, which still exists today.
