In researching early slavic clothing, I have come across an interesting regional stroje ludowe, or regional traditional costume in Poland. These folk costumes appear to have their origins in peasant traditional dress from around the 19th century. However one isolated region in Poland has a traditional costume that appears to be a bit older. The Biłgoraj region of Poland is isolated by swamps and forests. Elements of this costume could give hints about the ancient peasant clothing style that was its origin.
The women’s costume is a flat round cap and long veil, blouse, skirt and apron. All are made in white linen with simple backstitch, straight, and chain stitches in a single color , red, or blue depending on the village. Lines, spiral S and triskel, and asterisks are common designs.
men wear a brown square cap with blue tassels and a long brown wool coat with blue woven trim around the neck. Their shirts and pants are white linen.
The shoes are very similar to Latvian pastala shoes. These are skin shoes with a drawstring around the top edge and leather thongs wrapping around the lower leg. There a photos of the Polish ones from the 19th c. on the Muzeum Lubelskie W Lubinie.
Lamus Dworski – Biłgoraj costume – a guide to Polish folk costumes