Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, April 1850

COSTUMES OF ALL NATIONS.

THE TOILET OF SWEDEN.

CHAPTER III.

WE give this description, because everything pertaining to the country of Miss Bremer is now of deep interest.

The inhabitants of this northern clime are distinguished from those that dwell in southern lands by having a national dress, which was established in 1777, doubtless with the wise intention of repressing or totally preventing those extravagancies and luxuries of clothing so prevalent among other nations. "The monster Fashion," says Swinton, in his Travels, "created for a scourge for mankind, has occasioned every evil that infests the age." Gustavus III., of Sweden, has shown that he participated in this opinion, for his sumptuary laws regarding dress are very determined and exact.

By the edict on this subject, settled in 1777, the men are ordered to wear a close coat, very wide breeches, strings in their shoes, a girdle, a round hat, and a cloak. The usual color for all these articles of dress is black on ordinary days; but on court-days they must assume a singular appearance, for they are enjoined to wear the cloak, buttons, girdle, and shoestrings of flame color. The women are obliged to wear a black gown, with puffed gauze sleeves, and a colored sash and ribbons; those, however, who go to court are allowed white gauze sleeves.

The higher classes, on great occasions, appear in a blue satin suit, lined throughout with shite, and splendidly ornamented with rich lace. The women are allowed a white satin robe, with colored ribbons.

Coxe, in his Travels, gives a more detailed account of this costume. The dress of the men, he says, resembles the old Spanish, and consists of a short coat, or rather jacket, a waistcoat, a cloak, a hat, with a feather a la Henri IV.; a sash round the waist, a sword, large and full breeches, and roses in the shoes. The cloak is of black cloth, edged with red satin; the coat, or jacket and breeches, are also ornamented with red stripes and buttons; the waistcoat, sash, pinks at the knees, and roses for the shoes are of red satin. this costume, however, is only for such persons as have been presented at court; those who have not been permitted this distinction are not allowed to ornament their habits with red satin.

The Swedish gentlemen wear neither beards nor whiskers. The ladies turn their hair back over a cushion, and leave two large curls to hang down at the back of the neck. They were formerly exceedingly prodigal in their dress, and followed all the extremes of the French fashions, until the legislature interfered to restrain such a love of expense and finery. In winter, they wear dresses lined and trimmed with costly furs.

The Swedish peasants are generally well clothed and protected from the inclemency of the weather. The men wear long cloth coats, warmly lined with sheepskin, and the women a striped woolen stuff of many colors, chiefly green, white and red.

Godey's Lady's Book is brought to you by