Ukrainian costume is based on a kind of baroque exaggeration. Picture the generous embroidered sleeves of the woman's blouse. It is richly decorated with needlework and hand-made lace. Sometimes multicolored bands and beads are added to shirts worn on special occasions.
Traditional folk attire is exhibited in museums, in souvenir shops, and is worn by members of folk ensembles.
What factors influenced the evolution of Ukrainian national costume?
On the one hand, there were climate conditions and types of work activity in different regions of the country. On the other hand, neighboring states and military invasions affected changes in culture and elements in folk attire. Add to this artistic talent, good natural taste and a thirst for improvement, which are distinctive Ukrainian characteristics, and you have the result: intricate, colorful and diverse dress. Regions which experienced the least meddling from neighboring states are those with the best preserved national dress. These include Kiev, Poltava, Chernyhiv, and the Zaporizhia regions. Culture developed more independently there. It is the costume of central Ukraine that is considered to be the model Ukrainian costume. Folk attire of the border regions (Polissia, Volyn, Bukovyna, the Lemko, Boiko, and Hutsul regions) was influenced by Polish, Romanian, southern Slavonic, Magyar and Caucasian designs.
The most popular and widespread sample of women's attire, originating from an Old Slavic design, is a long chemise, with a belt around the waist. Stylized flowers and mythical symbols dating from the pre-Christian era decorate the chemise. Later, variations of a skirt and blouse ensemble appeared in different regions of Ukraine.
For men the national costume consists of a shirt, trousers (narrow or wide) a vest, a belt and (usually) black boots. Men's shirts evolved from a knee-length tunic into a hip-length shirt with embroidered collar and cuffs worn tucked into the trousers. Oak branches, symbols of enduring beauty and strength, were the favorite ornament to embroider on a man's shirt. Sometimes a vest is worn over the shirt. Belts were made of silk, wool or cotton. They varied in color and had long tassels.