Phivos Stavrides Foundation - Larnaka Archives

Family photo from the 1880s. The youngest woman in the photo wears an elegant dress with a tight bodice and a double skirt.

The dresses maintain their closed character with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a long skirt. Despite emphasising the female silhouette in an S shape, retaining the corset, they are now more comfortable. At least for younger women, the appearance is principally characterised by soft, light colours and an abundance of lace. The costumes are either one-piece or two-piece, with a combination of a skirt and a blouse. There is often an additional piece of fabric of the same material as the dress at the neck and shoulders, in a circular or V shape, emphasising the upper part of the body.

The young woman holds the hand of a small boy, who wears a short dress with a white collar around the neck and white trousers that protrude at the bottom.

Ν.Γ.Κ.Κ7.056

Elli Valsamaki and Miltiadis Oikonomidis, "Larnaca 12/25/3/1918." The man wears an elegant black suit and bow tie, and holds a "ravdos" (cane?) in his right hand. The woman's black hat, voluminous and imposing, is adorned with white feathers. Her black and white dress is complemented with a long belt in the same colours, and a white muff.

Collection of Evgenia Mantovani Astgian.

Sofoklis Stavrinidis and Laura Pascotini in everyday attire, taking a stroll in the countryside (1910s). The man wears a complete European-style costume and a hat with a ribbon. The woman is dressed in black. Her white hat, adorned with a pin and a ribbon, is of impressive size, adding elegance to the feminine appearance.

Π.Β.Κ6.20

Unknown couple (late 19th century). The dark-coloured woman's dress contrasts with her white umbrella. The skirt is enriched with various layers or folds of fabric creating a double skirt, as well as horizontal and vertical pleats and ruffles. Corsets are used to achieve a good fit of the bodice and emphasise the curves of the body with enhancement of the bust and tightening of the lower part of the chest. The dress, modern for its time, is paired with traditional jewellery and a pendant watch. The man wears a fez in combination with an everyday western-style suit, comprising a white shirt, a light-coloured jacket and black trousers.

Π.Β.Κ7.36

Unknown couple

Unknown couple (1880s?). In the photograph of the couple, the man wears a fez in combination with a European suit, including a shirt under a long jacket, and trousers. The attire of the young woman standing next to him presents a rare appearance of the bell-shaped crinoline, old-fashioned for the time.

The wide European crinoline was worn internally, under the skirt, and had hoops or a wire frame assembled with woven horsehair (crin, from which the term crinoline is derived) or with cotton or linen thread. In Western fashion, the use of the crinoline was at its peak from the mid-19th century until around 1870, while in Cyprus it was in use during the 1860s.

Ν.Γ.Κ.Κ8.108

School photograph (late 1910s). The young female students are wearing sailor uniforms, consisting of white dresses with blue and white collars. Their hair is tied in buns and they wear headbands.

Π.Β.Κ6.212

The Manzoloudes kindergarten (early 1910s). The two kindergarten teachers shown on the photograph, are the Manzoloudes sisters. They are similarly dressed with ankle-length skirts and blouses made of the same patterned fabric but in different designs. Their rich hair is gathered and adorned with ribbons. In the same photograph, at the back, stands a woman wearing a white blouse combined with a traditional headscarf, decorated with pipilla (needle lace). Children's attire principally consists of short dresses for girls, but also sailor suits.

Φ.Σ.Φ1.Φ1

Young boys in suits consisting of white shirts closed with ties, black trousers, waistcoats, and jackets. They are students of the Pancyprian Lyceum Larnaca (1907). The boy on the left is Pavlos Valtasidis.

Π.Β.Κ5.34

Peppa Pascotini (late 1910s - early 1920s). Her posture of reverence and special costume are associated with the ceremony of the First Communion in the Catholic tradition. The young girl is photographed in a studio. She is reading an open book that she holds in her hands, kneeling in front of a tall candle decorated with a bow. She wears a white, modest dress symbolising purity, reminiscent of christening attire. Her loose hair is covered by a long tulle veil, with flowers adorning the forehead. The costume is complemented with gloves, socks, and shoes tied with ribbons, all in white. Hanging from her waist is a white lace bag with fringes all around, held by two fabric bands.

Π.Β.Κ6.17

Young girls in white dresses with bows on their heads pose in a studio, inside a boat (early 1920s). From left to right, they are Maro Stavrinidou, Peppa Pascotini, and Ape Stini.

Π.Β.Κ6.06