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 Women's
costume (excerpt from ASPECTS)
The traditional women's costume always uses the same components
:
The Shirt with long sleeves made of
hempen cloth, the only lingerie piece; a straight collar with
a finely embroidered border made by the young girls in the
pastures. It is the only part of the shirt that remains visible.
The Sleeves made of woollen cloth are separated from
the dress, set on a cloth yoke to make movements easier.
 The
Dress made of black woollen cloth composed of a very
short doublet on which the skirt is affixed. The latter is
without equivalent in Europe. Made by the assemblage
of dozens of cotton strips (called apponsures) to obtain a
strange upturned-back shape of a score of accordion creases
measuring 11 to 13 meters around the bottom for celebration
dresses. Working dresses made of coarse local woollen cloth
could weigh up to 7 kilos.
The Shawl or kerchief made of printed
cotton (indian), printed wool, embroidered and fringed, or
silk with embroideries and/or fringes.
The Wide Belt : original element mentioned as early
as the XVIIth century. Cloth strip made rigid with strong
cardboard, ribboned or embroidered, it is tied with small
chains also made by women.
The Apron, made of cloth, wool or silk cover all the
front of the dress.
 The
Beguine, particularly in St Sorlin, comprises a headdress
made of cloth covered with fine white linen starched and tightened
in the back on a horseshoe-shaped metal frame. Hobbin lacework
surrounds the face with 70 or 80 small creases on each side.
The central piece, uncreased, is worn down on the top of the
head. For Sundays and festivities, the beguine is made of
red cloth adorned with colored paper, sequins, silver festoons,
behind an invisible tulle veil.
The Jewels : a simple ribbon, a knitted pearl necklace
or a silk ribbon adorned with sequins carries the silver cross
(Christ on one side, the Virgin Mary with the child on the
other) surmounted by a silver heart.
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