A FISHERMAN'S WIFE WAITS ON THE BRITTANY COAST , "L'ATTENTE"
FRENCH PEASANT WEAR
French peasants in
the 19c. were mostly dressed in strong washable cloth, usually linen or hemp, all in very simply-cut styles, often hand-sewn
by the village sewing women or the nuns in the convents. Like English smocks, the French ones for men, (which
were part of the girls' marriage dowries,) were square-cut with double collars, yokes and cuffs, to take rough wear and
soiling, and endless washing. For Mass, holidays and the hiring fairs, the men wore indigo, loose smocks,
often in very fine highly polished cotton, called blousons or blaudes with a large deep pocket
on the right front to hold the money safe. Blue/white check trousers, sabots and furry caps completed the outfit and
they can still be seen on special folklorique days. The women had long skirts, distinctive aprons and
the coifs on top of the head.
I do not deal in the elaborate regional
costume but always have some of the simpler garments, workwear, shirts, nightdresses, hankies which are very attractive,
hard-wearing and totally washable, and I have supplied the smocks to artists, potters, musicians, cooks, and for gardening,
poolside and safari wear. One of my clients bought 7 (they are very cheap) and dyed each
one a different colour, all to wear over her designer jeans.
I have masses of aprons
and workwear, 'les bleues', for cooks, gardeners, bistro waiters, maids and cooks and even butchers.
Many go to film wardrobes.
