Welsh costume: Cardiganshire / Carmarthenshire gown

Description

The type of gown found in Cardiganshire (Ceredigion) and Carmarthenshire (Caerfyrddin) and occasionally to the north and east of these counties normally had a low-cut bodice with short sleeves and integral long tail. Almost every one was made of very dark blue or black flannel with red stripes. The skirt was normally of a matching fabric

The distinctive fabric used for these gowns and skirts was not used for any other purpose, except briefly for trousers.
Date:
No reliable method of dating the surviving examples is known but it appears that a few gowns have been dated by informed guesswork. The few gowns which have good provenances and are said to have been worn by named people (e.g. at weddings) place them from the 1840s to the end of the 19th century, but some of this information is considered unreliable. Most of the surviving gowns of this type may be later than 1860 or even 1880 and it is possible that some date to the early 20th century.

• https://welshhat.wordpress.com/elements-of-welsh-costumes/gowns-and-bedgowns/cardiganshire-and-carmarthenshire-bedgowns/ (link opens in new window)