annerley

Gypsy Woman and two young children, Annerley, 1907

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Romani dress is the traditional attire of the Romani people, widely known in English by the exonymic slur Gypsies.[a] Romani traditional clothing is closely connected to the history, culture, and national identity of the Roma people.[2][3 Romani people are often recognizable to other Roma through their appearance and cultural dress codes. Moreover, Romani people value the outward display of their wealth and prosperity which is reflected in their traditional dress.[2] For the lower body, Romani women traditionally wear skirts. The size of the skirts varies among people of different tribes, ages, and marital statuses. Traditionally skirts were always worn below the knees as the lower body is considered taboo in Romani culture but, this has changed in modern times. Romani women would also traditionally avoid trousers although this has also changed among the young generation. Additionally, among the Vlax Roma, married women will wear a white apron above their skirts.[2][7] The apron of Romani women was in place to protect the food from the dirt of the dress per the cleanliness code of Romani people.[8] In certain Vlax Romani cultures such as the Gábors, Romani women over the age of 10 are required to wear a dress code that consists of a colourful pleated skirt, colourful blouse with patterns, long pleated apron from the same material as the skirt, and for married women, the kerchief constitutes the rule for clothing. Married and young women alike wear a red ribbon in their hair. For footwear, women wear sandals, slippers, boots, or shoes. The color of the skirts can reflect a Romani women's status and age with brighter colors being used by younger girls and darker colors by older women. Black skirts are a sign of mourning in the Romani culture.[3] Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_dress

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  Roma Women's Clothing Women are interested in fashion that shows their sense of "shame" and their status as guardians of purity for the family. Because of this role, women are expected to cover their legs at least to the mid-calf. Married women traditionally cover their head with a scarf and tie their long hair up or braid it. There is no shame associated with showing a low-cut neckline; in fact, it is rare to see a woman who does not wear low-cut tops. Women may wear modern western clothing when they do not want to be recognized as Roma. Some, for example, wear "Hopi" Indian dress to "pass" as American Indians. Even within these limitations, women have a great deal of leeway to adopt different styles: 1. Traditional Serbian or Russian Roma-homemade, long, pleated, light chiffon, sari-like skirt; tight lowcut blouse with V-neck showing cleavage; a bra that acts as a pocketbook and place for cigarettes; hair put up in a chignon or bun; pocket handkerchief or larger style scarf on the head; flat shoes. 2. 1970s fashion-store-bought suit with A-line maxi-skirt and fitted jacket; floppy straw Easter bonnet hat; high heels. 3. Eastern European Roma contemporary-flowered, bright calf-length skirt; short puffed-sleeved peasant blouse with gold coins around the neck; and scarf on the head; barefoot or in flat shoes. (Located in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary.) 4. Spanish Roma entertainment-flamenco dress that is calf-length; bright polka-dot material; sleeveless low-cut top Source: fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-around-world/roma...