Fashion Around the World
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Mexico
COLOR • COLOR • COLOR
Mexican national clothing is very bright and and very beautiful.
There are many different designs of traditional costumes used for celebrations, holidays, ceremonies and festivals. Join us as we explore them all on our fashion journey around the world.
Traditional Clothing of Mexico
Traditionally, Mexican women wore clothing which was normally very simple with garnishes of color. The Huipil, a tunic-like dress, and other types of enredos were very typical, pre-Columbian garb. Originally, these dresses were made mostly of cotton. Following the Spanish colonization of Mexico, silks and wools started to become more popular.
Traditional Mexican women's clothing regularly includes lots of ornate embroidery, often including images and patterns that have symbolic meaning attached to them. Typically, men's clothing is not as colorful as women's. Spanish conquistadores had an enormous impact on indigenous clothing. What we know today as Mexican clothing has much to do with this influence. Let's get started with a quick slideshow of beautiful clothing from Mexico.
Dresses of Mexico
Many traditional dresses are sequined and painted by hand. Hours and hours of labor are required for each. This next video is a fashion show of costumes showcasing their history and place of origin. We apologize for the quality of the video but really love the images. Let's watch.
Wedding Dresses
Even wedding dresses are sequined and painted by hand. This next video is a slideshow of beautiful, modern brides and their gowns. Let's watch.
Just for Fun
Let's watch this video produced by Vogue showing some of the processes that go into Mexican Fashion.
It was produced in Spanish so be sure and put on the cations.
Be sure and join us next time when we explore the holidays and their festive fashions.
HOLIDAYS: Feliz Navidad
Holiday dress and traditions
With a strong ties to Christianity it is no surprise that Christmas is a special time in Mexico marked by festive celebration, and the clothing to match.
Let’s watch this video captured at the EPCOT center in Florida to see traditional dancing and hear explanations of Christmas traditions in Mexico.
CELEBRATIONS: Quinceaneras
Celebrating the Coming of Age
The special 15th birthday is celebrated differently than any other as it marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. Historically, in the years prior to their 15th birthdays, girls were taught cooking, weaving, and about childbearing in preparation for their future roles as wives and during the celebration the girl's father would present her to potential suitors.
HOLIDAYS: Day of the Dead
November 1 and 2
The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[8]
Our next video is a brief introduction to the celebration of All Hallow's Eve
Who was La Catarina?
And why do we dress like her for the Day of the Dead?
Was she the daughter of Spanish king Francisco Gonzales?
Was she a cartoon character created for a newspaper in 1910?
A female Aztec goddess of the underworld?
Let's watch the video below and find out.
Any surprises here?
What is the most surprising thing to
you about this story?
How to dress for All Hallow's Eve
Most women center their Day of the Dead outfits around La Calavera Catrina. Think traditional Mexican dresses, big feathered hats, flower crowns, sugar skull face paint and the most important detail: color
JUST FOR FUN:
Let's watch this short 'sugar skull' makeup tutorial and a Mexico City 'Day of the Dead' parade slideshow.
Have you ever been to a Day of the Dead Celebration?
What did you wear?
If you have not, would you like to?
This is the end of this section.
Italy
Traditional to Modern
Italy is one of the leading countries in fashion design and has always been an important part of the country's cultural life and society. Italians are well known for their attention to dress: la bella figura, or good appearance, retains it traditional importance.
Le Bella Figura:
...literally translates to "the beautiful figure." It means to dress well to make a good impression. La bella figura, though is much more than appearance. It is also about dignity, hospitality and politeness. Even if running out for milk, Italian women look very well put together.
Traditional to Modern
Italian fashion became prominent during the 11th to 16th centuries, when artistic development in Italy was at its peak. Cities such as Rome, Palermo, Venice, Milan, Naples, Florence and Vicenza started to produce luxury goods, hats, cosmetics, jewelry and rich fabrics. From the 17th century to the early 20th, Italian fashion lost its importance and lustre and Europes main trendsetter became France, with the great popularity of French Fashion; this is due to the luxury dresses which were designed for the courtiers of Louis XIV. However, since the 1951-53 fashion soirées heldo by Giovanni Battista Giorgini in Florence, the Italian school started to compete with the French haute couture, and labels such as Ferragamo and Gucci began to contend with Chanel and Dior. In 2009, Milan, Italy's centre of design, was ranked the top fashion capital of the world and Rome was ranked fourth. Milan is generally considered to be one of the "big four" global capitals, along with
Let's begin our exploration into the roots of Italian fashion with a look at its history beginning with the renaissance. Then we'll jump to modern influences with biographies of the world's most influential Italian designers.
Modern Italy joins the fashion
world's elite
Beginning in the middle of the twentieth century, Italy's enfluence on the worl'd fashion changed. Let's watch a brief history of this evolution.
Enjoy a brief biographical video on eight of the most famous Italian designers.
Just for Fun
Vintage Video:
Italian Fashions
1956
This is the end of this section.
RUSSIA
An exploration of traditional Russian fashion and the opulence of the royal imperial court
Traditional Russian Fashion Defined
Sarafan • Verenka • Shugay • Kokoshnik
Valenki • Kosovorotka • Ushanka
18th-20th Century Fashion
at the Russian Court
A short history of Ceremonial Life at the Russian Imperial Court through the costumes of the State Hermitage collection up until the Royal House of the Romanovs
The Russian Court Dress
Imperial Russia had incredibly ornate royal jewelry and gowns. This impressive catalog was likely due to merging European and Oriental styles.
Jewels! The Glitter of the Russian Court
One of the Hermitage's greatest treasures is the fabulous jewelry collection. Together with the many portraits and a profusion of richly decorated gowns and ensembles worn by the highest echelons at the Russian court in St. Petersburg.
The Romanov's Royal Costume Ball of 1904
Actual court photos of the royals in attendance of this opulent event.
