For centuries, the Russian people expressed all their feelings in song and dance. The song was accompanied by housework and the fulfillment of the difficult duties of a plowman, and the dance often had some magical meaning, consisting in invoking good weather and favorable conditions for the future harvest.
A Russian man from the people has always been very sensitive to beauty, which at all times, even the most difficult ones, has lived and continues to live in the soul of any of us. An incredible craving for the Beautiful is embodied in the works of architecture, sculpture and painting, which are created professionally, and simple peasants could also realize this desire, but only in a variety of everyday objects or in creating their own unique appearance.
The items of clothing that ordinary peasant women in villages sewed and knitted themselves on long winter evenings are now perceived as genuine works of art. Can a Russian folk costume be a work of art? After all, the nameless craftswoman, creating it, did not think about creating something eternal ... Many foreigners visiting folk art museums call the Russian folk costume, made of rough canvas and half decayed from time to time, simply trash that must be immediately destroyed as something completely unnecessary. But is it possible to destroy the very soul of the people - after all, so many feelings were invested in a simple Russian folk costume and household items ...
No, the Russian folk costume does not die, it simply cannot die and be forgotten. If you look at those patterns that have been preserved in museums, you can see and comprehend the secrets that are hidden in the ornaments, form and color scheme of the costume, which for us is gradually turning into that thread that connects the present and the past, modernity and history. You cannot forget your pedigree.
In many countries, folk costumes are carefully preserved and held in high esteem. Recently, we have also observed an interesting process of the revival of folk traditions. Visiting classes of folklore groups has become extremely popular among young people, and the traditions of Russian costume are successfully used by eminent fashion designers to create completely unique collections.
A modern costume in a folk style can now often be seen on young modern girls on the streets and fashion shows, and such dresses are met with constant applause. A characteristic feature of the Russian costume is considered softness and smoothness of lines. A girl putting on a sundress does not just walk along the street or along the stage. She seems to swim or glide - it is because of this that the girl has always been called by the people a pava, a swan or a snout, thereby emphasizing the girl’s smooth gait and the leisurely and measured movement of her and resemblance to a bird.
Now the folk costume is a real source of inspiration for many clothing designers, who find in it a real treasury for their ideas. Now cut, color combination and ornament of folk costume are widely used in creating new collections of fashionable clothes. Moreover, new trends in fashion and clothing styles appeared - ethnic and folklore.
Costumes for folk dances, which are an excellent addition to this popular art form, help to better identify the content of the dance, harmoniously combining with it and not contradicting the depth that it contains.
Russian costume, being one of the most widespread and ancient forms of decorative and applied folk art, is distinguished by a particular breadth of artistic and cultural ties, as well as an incredible richness and variety of forms. This is not just clothes, but a holistic artistic and harmonious ensemble, consisting of various items of clothing, shoes and various decorations that are well combined with each other.