Throughout history, clothing in Ireland has undergone a great deal of change. We look back through the history of Irish fashion which was influenced by a number of factors, including economic prosperity and practicality.
We’d be nowhere if it wasn’t for our history, and throughout the country’s cultural history, from industry to day-to-day life, clothing has played a prominent role.
A Step Back in Time
Throughout Hollywood movies’ depictions of Ireland’s past, it seems as if everyone wore shawls until about a half-century ago, which isn’t the case. Despite this, there isn’t much known about the history of Irish fashion before the 12th century.
Some historians argue that early inhabitants of Ireland wore animal-skin garments, whereas others believe that wool cloth was preferred. Mantles, woollen coats made of cloth, were worn by the Irish by the thirteenth century.
The Mantle
There were a few items of clothing that were very traditional for the Irish. A sign of wealth was the mantle. Peasants were known to make mantles out of scraps of cloth sewn together, whereas the wealthy could afford mantles made from one piece of cloth.
An extra way to display wealth was to embroider or ornate brooches onto the mantle. The freeman could also wear as many colours as they wanted, whereas slaves were only allowed to wear one colour.
The Leine
A traditional Irish item of clothing amongst all genders and society was the leine. There were knee-length tunics without sleeves and often worn over a mantle or brat. A leine was commonly large at the bottom but got narrower as it went up. Along with this, they also had a traditional colour of saffron-yellow.
The Kilt
Easily one of the most well-known forms of Irish clothing, the kilt originated in the 18th century. While most individuals associate the kilt with Scotland, it is worn by the Irish as well. The kilt is a symbol of pride and celebration for both heritages, but the different kilts do have differences.
The Saffron Kilt is the traditional kilt associated with Ireland. Often, the Saffron Kilt has shamrocks appliquéd along the pleats, making it a mustard yellow in colour. Irish soldiers first wore saffron kilts in the British Army during the 20th century. They are currently the most commonly worn kilt in Ireland, which is a great example of the history of Irish fashion being carried over in today’s time.
Irish Fashion as We Know It Today
The history of Irish fashion has had a big impact on Ireland fashion trends that we’ve come to know and love today. Irish fashion is known to be very polished. Crop tops and revealing shorts are avoided as not only will you get cold, but you’ll look inappropriate within the Irish community.
An everyday favourite is often a dark-coloured pair of jeans paired with a blouse that can easily be matched with a winter coat for the cold days. Summer fashion does tend to differ from winter fashion.
When it comes to shoes, a staple in Irish closets are year-round boots – more popular are boots that are calf-length.
As we know, hair loss is a battle that nearly half of Irish men and women suffer. One of the latest fashion trends, as we’ve seen from hair transplant reviews, is that people are going for a hair transplant to make themselves look just as stylish as their outfits.
