The most beautiful Provençal costumes are on display in Sanary
The soul of Provence too, as this heritage is magnificent, precious and deserves to be rediscovered. It is also authentic, because all the pieces of these outfits were worn by women of all ages and conditions, having simply lived before us, between the end of the 18th and 19th centuries, sometimes in the streets that are familiar to us.
The golden fingers of Coustiero FlouridoIf this heritage has come down to us in such perfect condition, it is thanks to the magic hands of the 52 members of the Sanary association La Coustiero Flourido, who meet every Monday to sew, re-embroider, patch or re-piece donated or second-hand pieces which, once restored, will reconstitute complete and authentic outfits. A family affair because it was Joseph Arnaud, the grandfather of the current president Martine, who created the association in 1928!
We can also admire a moving outfit worn by Martine's grandmother and mother... In this exhibition with its very successful intimate scenography, around fifty mannequins bring back to life these bastidanes and craftswomen, but also the peasant women for whom work clothes were not synonymous with austerity! The gaiety of their multi-colored flower prints, which blended unashamedly with the blue and red stripes of their petticoats, already amazed the travelers of the time... They were also captivated by the piqués and boutis of the beautiful bastidanes, made even more precious by their lace headdresses.
Unique outfitsThese magnificent outfits also tell the story of Lower Provence, because as Martine Arnaud recalls, " they were made with fabrics that came from India, hence their famous paisley and floral patterns, printed between two wooden plates, which created irregularities and made them unique! As for the headscarves, they came from Marseille, Lyon, Nîmes or even Mulhouse... The outfits and headdresses were specific to each city and each profession: thus, bugadières and peasant women wore a headdress that came down to the back of their necks to protect them from the sun. Even the fishermen's outfits varied between Toulon, Marseille or Nice, it was very local... ".
A vibrant cultureIn Sanary, members of the Coustiero Flourido take every opportunity to proudly display these traditional costumes, often to the sound of fifes and tambourines. This doesn't stop them from bringing this culture to life at numerous events such as the Fête des Traditions, the Virée de Saint-Nazaire, and of course, the Christmas festivities. You'll recognize some of the outfits in this superb exhibition, a veritable printed and damask journey to the heart of our Provençal roots. You can almost hear the cicadas singing...
Practical Provençal costume, until May 29 at Espace Saint Nazaire, 8 rue Joseph Courrau in Sanary, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., free entry.
In the Provence of yesteryear, highly codified clothing reflects age and wealth. -The craftswoman, of intermediate category, often runs a shop and must receive her customers with elegance. She wears calico dresses and linen shirts with a simple kerchief and a cotton apron, a "courduro" headdress (with a seam on the top of the head) and a straw or felt hat. On Sunday at mass (where the outfits were particularly observed!), she wears petticoats and a quilted skirt (quilted) with a silk caraco, embroidered kerchief and "gauto" headdress, edged with lace, which covers the cheeks. -The bastidane, owner of a country house and well-off, wears a rich outfit: calico quilting, caraco (bodice with more or less long sleeves closed with pins), decorative silk apron and jewelry. Her headdress is decorated with piped lace (like the cells of a beehive) and her scarf is made of embroidered tulle.
-It is quite different for the peasant woman, whose work requires her to wear sturdy clothes made of hemp, linen, or cotton, spun on a spinning wheel. It is the weaver who makes the fabric for her work clothes, which are not without elegance, including a striped cotton skirt, a linen shirt, a bodice, a caraco, and a printed cotton scarf. A plain or floral apron and a simple headdress complete them.
Var-Matin
