pink

A two-piece set of a blouse and a skirt. The blouse is made of a soft pink silk. Features a high, standing collar adorned with fine lace trim in an off-white or cream color. The lace has a delicate floral pattern. A lace overlay extends from the collar to form a shawl-like feature that drapes over the shoulders. This lace layer is scalloped and intricately detailed, continuing across the chest and back. The sleeves are long and finished with lace-trimmed cuffs that flare slightly, mirroring the decorative lace of the collar and shoulders. The blouse has a fitted silhouette at the waist. The skirt is made of the same soft pink fabric as the blouse, with pleated detailing that adds volume and movement to the lower portion. It features horizontal decorative stitching or fabric bands near the hemline, adding subtle visual interest. The hem is slightly flared, creating a graceful and flowing silhouette that complements the blouse. It is full-length, reaching to the ankles.

ΜΓ 813

Youthfull (adolescent) short-sleeved, European type dress, remade from an older, refashioned lilac woven skirt with colourful stripes. These skirts made of sattakrouta, thick silk fabric, used to be made mostly in Nicosia as part of the traditional festive attire around the early 20th century (see examples in:…)

The dress consists of a skirt and a bodice, joined at the waist by way of machine stitching. The skirt, which widens downwards, comprises four panels with hand-sewn joints lengthwise, at the centre and on the sides of the skirt. White and green stripes form two broad horizontal bands (height: 9.4 cm) one higher and the other lower respectively. Each band comprises three fine stripes and three broader ones. In the middle of the skirt, front and back, two pleats made with simple machine stitching extend from the waist to the first white stripe of the upper band. Further down, the pleats open up free. In the lower part of the skirt, the hem is simple, hand-crafted, and broad (height: 6.5 cm), allowing for the dress to lengthen if required.

The bodice consists of the same fabric as that of the skirt, in combination with white cotton. At the front, fabric from the original skirt is employed, with the green and white stripes in vertical arrangement. The lilac fabric forms curved projections on either side, created with crude scissor cuts. A plastic button, shaped like a rosette, with a small green flower at the centre, is sewn to the top of the curved projections. The projections emerge on a white cotton fabric that covers the upper part of the breast up to the shoulders. The different parts of the front side are sewn together with machine stitching. Vertical tucks extend in pairs on either side of the central axis on the bust, along the entire length of the lilac fabric. Their inner sides are machine-stitched and their outer sides free. A collar with pointed tips is formed on the V-shaped neckline. Internally, the collar is reinforced with a fine band of purple fabric (two 1.5 cm-wide pieces, each flanking the centre) as well as with another two pieces of purple silk fabric at the triangular ends. The elements mentioned above are hand-sewn.

Two pieces of lilac fabric have been used for the lower part of the back, joined together by way of a handmade seam lengthwise at the centre, and to the front panels with machine stitching under the armpits. The upper part of the back up to the neckline consists of two symmetrical segments of beige cotton fabric, joined to the rest of the fabric pieces with machine stitching (along the shoulders, on the sleeves and in the lower part). A vertical opening, hemmed by hand, is formed at the centre, between the two pieces of cotton fabric, on the extension of the central seam. The opening fastens at its top with a plastic button, of the same type as those used on the front side of the dress.

The sleeves, slightly puffed with pleats, are sewn to the body in a curved line with the use of a sewing machine, and end in a handmade hem. The left sleeve consists of a single fabric piece with an inseam in the lower part. The right sleeve consists of two pieces, one of them smaller and rectangular, on the inside of the lower part. The two sleeves differ in terms of the yellow stripes at their ends, whereas on the right sleeve the stripes are not entirely aligned with the joints of the two fabric pieces.

On the left side, the dress features a 10 cm-tall vertical opening which reaches slightly above and slightly below the waistline. No fastening elements survive.

Height: 94 cm.

Length of skirt: 56.5 cm.

Width: 38.5 cm maximum on the bodice, 37.5 cm at the waist, 78 cm in the lower part of the skirt.

Length of sleeves: 20-20.5 cm.

Width of sleeves: 14.5 cm (in the lower end).

Date of entry to the Collection: 28.7.1994

Provenance: Nicosia – Purchased from Militsa Panayiotou.

ΜΓ 812

Long, long-sleeved dress of pink silk fabric with separate elements of similar orange fabric and details of ready-made off-white lace.

The formal garment comprises a bodice and a skirt, joined at the waist with a waistband. On the front side, the upper part is made of two side pieces of pink fabric: the one on the right extends to the back whereas the second one on the left reaches under the armpit, where it is joined to another narrow piece of the same fabric. The rest of the back is made of a single piece of pink fabric. The centre of the breast is covered with a broad vertical band of orange silk fabric, sewn to the pink fabric on the right side of the breast. The other side of the band, on the left, is unsewn, forming an opening that closes with four springs. Two double, opposite-facing vertical tucks, 3-4 cm wide, are formed on either side of the central panel, on the edges of the two pink pieces. The tucks are sewn with machine stitching lengthwise, almost halfway, whereas both their edges are free. The orange band of fabric is adorned at the height of the breast with a horizontal band of lace, 3.5 cm in height, secured top and bottom with machine stitching. A green narrow horizontal band, hand-sewn with basting using a thread of similar colour, extends higher up. Internally, the part of the orange band that features sewn-on decoration is reinforced with a rectangular piece of thick beige cotton lining (loom-woven fabric). The horizontal side of the neckline, at the top of the orange band, is also decorated with lace, similar to that used on the breast.

The shoulders, front and back, are covered with a wide marine collar of orange silk fabric. Lace, 2 cm in height, similar to the one used elsewhere on the garment, trims the entire collar.

The long sleeves form a slightly curved joint to the body. They consist of a single fabric piece with an inseam. An added band of fabric, 10 cm in height, trims the entire lower part of the left sleeve. Lace, 3.3 cm in height, similar to the lace that adorns the body, is sewn to the edge of each sleeve with machine stitching.

At the waist of the dress, an added wide waistband of orange fabric fastens to the left of the centre with a hook and a spring, with the catch missing. An added band of the same fabric, sewn so as to form a bow, covers the fastening of the waistband. The opening of the dress extends from the bodice to the skirt (total opening height from the neckline: 38.5 cm, 25 cm of which up to the top edge of the waistband).

The skirt is pleated in the upper part and widens downwards. It consists of three panels, ca. 58 cm wide each, joined with machine stitching. The hemline features the same type of stitching, and is adorned all around with lace sewn in the upper part by hand. The lace, which slightly projects from the fabric at the bottom, is different than that used elsewhere on the dress, in terms of both width (5.5 cm) and design.

The dress features an intricate pattern, incorporating construction and stylistic elements of the first decades of the 20th century. It is almost entirely made with the use of a sewing machine, stands out for the daring combination of vibrant colours (pink, orange and, in places, green) and includes elements of European fashion such as the tripartite design of the body, the marine collar, the bow at the waistband and the lace trimmings. The combined use of silk, shiny fabrics and lace adds to an air of luxury and lends formality to the dress. The dress is in all likelihood dated to the 1910s-1920s.

Height: 110.5 cm (bodice: 33.5 cm up to the waist, height of skirt: 77 cm).

Width: 33 cm on the shoulders, 34.5 cm at the waist, 86 cm at the hemline.

Length of sleeves: 47 cm (including the lace).

Width of sleeves: 20 cm in the upper part and 13 cm in the lower part.

Date of entry to the Collection: 28.7.1994

Provenance: Nicosia – Purchased from Militsa Panayiotou.

ΜΓ 810

Long, long-sleeved foustanin of ready-made cotton imported fabric with fine pink stripes alternating with rows of consecutive tiny dots or circles in red against a white background.

In the upper part of the dress, the two front panels, that have seams on the shoulders, reach under the armpits and cover part of the back, with their stripes obliquely placed. A third piece of fabric, with vertical stripes, forms the centre of the back. A 4 cm-tall waistband is made from a separate piece of the same fabric, with horizontal stripes.

At the front, the simple round neckline extends to a vertical opening, 42 cm tall, 14.5 cm of which below the waistband. The opening fastens with four hooks, two at the front and two on the waistband, most of them probably posterior. At the front, next to the neckline as well as below the breast, each piece of fabric is tucked and held in place with stitching for better fitting. The tuck under the breast reaches down to the waistband. At the back, a blue decorative ribbon, secured within the seam, runs along the oblique joints of the central piece to the side panels. At the middle of the central piece, a vertical band of fabric with two small, opposite-facing tucks along its edges, is flanked by blue ribbon of the same type. At the front, above the waistband, vertical bands of bias-cut fabric (height: 23.5 cm, width: 2.5 cm) flank the vertical opening. Each band is also trimmed with 0.5 cm-wide faded blue ribbon. A similar ribbon also accentuates the horizontal seams on the shoulders.

The sleeves consist of a single fabric piece with an inseam. A bias-cut ruffle, 3.5 cm in height, has been added to a 1.2 cm-tall hem on the edges of the sleeves. On one sleeve, the ruffle is made of a single band of fabric; on the other, of two joined bands. Here too, the joint of the ruffle to the edge of the sleeve is adorned with fine blue ribbon.

The skirt comprises three elongated panels, one of which is 50 cm wide and the other two 60 cm wide. In the upper part, the fabric of the skirt is turned in and gathers, particularly on the side and at the back, where it is reinforced internally with white cotton fabric and a second fabric piece, also white cotton, displaying floral motifs. A ruffle around the hemline, 7 cm in height, is defined in the upper part by a blue ribbon. Slightly higher up, two parallel horizontal pleats outline the skirt.

The entire bodice, with the sleeves, is lined with white cotton fabric. Most of the seams of the foustanin are handmade using white thread and, more rarely, red. The ribbon on the sleeves, the hemline and the breast is also secured with stitching by hand, whereas the joints at the back appear to have been made with machine stitching.

Overall, the dress appears more elaborate because of the varied arrangement of the fabric panels and the resulting combination of oblique, vertical and horizontal stripes.

Height: 118 cm (bodice with waistband: 36 cm, skirt: 82 cm).

Width: 28 cm on the shoulders, 36 cm at the waist, 83 cm around the hemline.

Length of sleeves: 48.5 cm.

Width of sleeves: 20 cm (on the shoulders) and 12 cm (at the hem).

Date of entry to the Collection: 28.7.1994

Provenance: Nicosia – Purchased from Militsa Panayiotou.