Where Did The Tradition Of Going At Home In Robes Come From?

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Why only Russian women wear robes at home

When we look at Soviet photos of our mothers and grandmothers, they invariably appear before us in colorful chintz robes. But this piece of home wardrobe is still preferred by many women in our country - unlike, for example, foreign ones.

Where does the fashion for robes come from?

To understand where the tradition of wearing a robe came to Russia, let us turn to the history of this garment.

Translated from Arabic, "robe" (khil'a) means "salary clothing" or "honorable clothing". The richly embroidered attire served as an indicator of the status of its owner. In many countries, this item has been a very valuable reward. In India in the 19th century, this word began to call any material incentive.

The robe originally appeared in Asian countries. It was worn by both men and women. Used as outerwear, and not at all as a household item. The long-length robe saved not only from the cold, but also from the heat. Models were divided into festive and everyday, imperial, noble and bureaucratic, male and female.

From the eastern countries, the robe migrated to Europe. In England and other neighboring countries, this item was used as home clothing, but was worn over a shirt and vest. What the whole ensemble was like can be understood from the outfits of the main characters from domestic films about Sherlock Holmes.

The popularity of the robe in Europe coincided with the reign of Peter the Great. The Russian sovereign adopted a lot from European life, including wardrobe items. Although the robe did not immediately win the love of Russians, by the 19th century it was recognized as a comfortable home clothing.

Many famous people of that time were depicted on canvases in dressing gowns. The artist Vasily Tropinin was nicknamed "a negligent portrait painter" because of his love for this piece of clothing. The most famous portrait of A. S. Pushkin painted by him.

To some extent, the dressing gown has become a symbol of the lordly lifestyle, laziness and idleness. Recall, for example, Oblomov, who is constantly lying on the sofa in this attire.

Dressing gown in Soviet times

After the October Revolution, the robe, along with other attributes of the bourgeoisie, was declared unsuitable for a new life in a socialist society. Previously, these clothes were made for rich people. Expensive fabrics were used - velvet, satin, silk. The collars and sleeves were decorated with delicate embroidery. The robe was wrapped around and tied with a belt. It is impossible to do household chores in such clothes - the long hemlines got tangled in the legs, flung open, the wide sleeves got dirty and interfered with work. She was recognized as inappropriate in the workers 'and peasants' environment.

However, later, robes were made from simple cotton fabric. They were fastened with buttons. It was convenient to put items used in the household in the large pockets.

In the conditions of a shortage of material and a lack of patterns, such an easy-to-make homewear came in handy. The hem and sleeves have been shortened. Chintz and flannel fabrics were breathable and comfortable. In the bright drawing, the spots seemed imperceptible. The product was easy to wash and dry and did not wear out for a long time.

These robes could not be compared with the previous, lordly. But, according to the new philosophy of the Soviet era, a woman has no need to dress up at home - she has no one to show off. Home is not a workplace where you have to be in full dress.

To meet the guests, a dressing gown was chosen that was more stylish, for example, with mother-of-pearl buttons, like that of the seductive heroine from The Diamond Hand.

Nowadays, the robe remains the main household garment. Young girls prefer to wear a knitted suit or the popular kigurumi jumpsuit at home. But the older generation invariably buys and wears a traditional robe, not wanting to change it to something else.

And how abroad

Abroad, they wear it only after taking a shower or getting out of bed and throwing it over their pajamas. It is not used as a daily form of clothing.

In the fall of 2019, Hollywood star Mila Jovovich posted a photo on the Internet in which she was captured with her daughter. Russian-speaking fans took the photo with affection and delight, noticing that the actress's Slavic roots from time to time declare themselves. The thing is that Mila is dressed in a colorful dress with a wrap, very reminiscent of an ordinary chintz robe with a "cheerful" pattern. Comments appeared under the photo: “Looks like my girlfriend who just did her homework with her daughter and decided to take a picture”, “There is not enough carpet on the wall”, “Robe! It's so cute, in Russian."