GalleryWOMEN'S NATIONAL COSTUME OF THE SMILTENE DISTRICT
On festive occasions women would put a white woollen shawl about their shoulders, plain but for fringes along the side edges. In winter a plaid was worn on top of it. In summer the so-called «snahtene» shawl was worn, made of bleached linen, either plain or figured, and trimmed with fringes. The white woollen shawl and the «snahtene» were sometimes folded lengthwise across the centre. The plaid was folded diagonally, corner to corner. The shawls were worn loose, without fastening them in front.
The blouse was very simple. A narrow drawn-thread work embroidery edged the collar. The attached yoke and cuffs were machine stitched in several lines. The blouse was either fastened at the neck with white ribbon, or with a small silver «sakta» (brooch).
A maroon skirt with tiny blue chequers was characteristic of this costume, closely gathered and attached to a belt of the same texture.
The jacket was made of the same material, tight-fitting, waistlong. The back of the jacket was decorated with a strip of the same material on a red cloth lining that was attached to the edge of the jacket so as to form little protruding crescents, the so-called «ears».
Young girls wore either coronets or hair-ribbons. The coronet was made of red cloth spangled with coloured glass beads. The hair ribbons were red with flowers embroidered on the ends. They were usually plaited into the hair which was twisted round the head, while the ends of the ribbons were knotted on the nape of the neck and hung down the back.
The ribbon was sometimes looped into a chain («vainaga») and twisted round the head, then knotted at the back with its ends hanging loose.
The married women's head-dress was either a white tower-shaped hat trimmed with lace in front, or a silken kerchief.
