              Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
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| Costume
... continued |
page 2 |
The National Eisteddfod
of 1876 at Wrecsam.
The best 'Complimentary Epigram on a Welsh
Woman's Hat' Mrs. J. R.. Hughes of Denbigh."It will be admired
for its neatness. It is its last epithet that
gives its 'crowning' excellence."
Let other maids their
heads enfold
In tresses dark or coils of gold;
Fair Cambrian maids, believe me that
Your crowning beauty is your
hat.
From Y
Cymmrodor 1887, page 83
|
Elizabeth
Ann Williams
(1870 - 1956)
in her Sugar Loaf Hat |
The Welsh
Costume
Dr.
Iorwerth C. Peate. (Translated from the Welsh by
HF)
Welsh Folk Dance
Society. 1st Newsletter. 1953 |
| According
to common belief, the Welsh costume comprises a
high hat, petticoat, bedgown, apron and shawl,
the whole of local manufacture. The bedgown was a
sort of long coat, forming a waist, and closing
over the bust, and a long tail which folded
behind over the petticoat, with the apron hiding
the petticoat front. |
| It is
necessary to understand that there was nothing
especially Welsh in this dress. The same was as
familiar throughout England. Scott said, about
Northumberland women at the beginning of the 19th
century: 'The women had no other dress than a
bedgown and a petticoat.' In 1834 Gwenynen
Gwent (afterwards Lady Llanofer) wrote an essay
on 'The Welsh Language and Welsh Form of
Dress', where she favoured a national dress
of flannel or homespun cloth, like natural Welsh
products rather than 'uncomfortable'
foreign materials. This caused the petticoat and
the bedgown to continue as 'traditional' dress in
some areas. The dress is not a national tradition
at all; that is evident too with there being no
'national' costume for men. |
But as the
costume has now gained its place, it does not pay
to ignore it and for folk dancing it would be
easy to develop on the old foundations. However,
that is a matter for garment makers rather than a
problem for a man like me.
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