National dress

[Greenbhoy]

Does England have a national costume?

Us Scots have the kilt, our fellow Celts can also wear a kilt and the Welsh women can wear that really cute "witchy" outfit but, if there were a dinner that every nation had to wear their national dress, what would our cousins in the south wear?

 

Suit and bowler hat? Morris-dancer outfit? Bover boots, braces, red footie t-shirt with the number 7 on the back? 

[petesgrayz]

Union jack shorts with hankie on head optional.

[Greenbhoy]

Would it not be english with a St George's flag hankie? (as the UJ hankie would be "british")

[Greenbhoy]

sorry, St Dod's shorts, not hankie.

[spudqueen]

Sandals with socks

[magicdice]

some horrendous violation of the laws of fashion

 

and an umbrella.

[Insane Wally]

If things like this had been said about certain other cultures you'd be called racists, good job we don't live up to our 'Whinging Pom' nickname.

Sandals, socks, string vest & hankie for me.

[Greenbhoy]

but seriously, what is the National Dress of England?

[Glossopswift]

On a trip to America I (and the representatives of 40 other nations) was asked to give a short talk to 3000 people about our country wearing national costume. I explained that I had no such thing but they said not to worry as they had already hired them. Apparently we Englishman wear top hat and tails.

[THECORBYLOON]

Greenbhoy There would have to be a Union Flag in the national dress somewhere since most of the English don't know what their flag is...............

[EssJay1]

I think the morris men's costume is the closest to an English national costume - worn with large hooped earrings and pony tailed hair in Essex, Burberry in Cheltenham and sandals and socks on the Costa Blanca 

[magicdice]

insane wally, it's always seemed to me that the english are the least patriotic. we don't care if someone criticises our monarchy or government (often, we'll join in), we only support our nation when it comes to sport (although i tend to just pick the team that deserves my support)

corby, it's the big flag that the lager louts strangle each other with after international football games, isn't it?

[kaktus]

Greenbhoy I googled "english national dress" and they all said than England has no national dress. Weird!

[Greenbhoy]

kaktus - I did they same and that's what rasied the question. Thought the combined brains on AB would at least have some idea.

[kaktus]

Greenbhoy I think it's very strange, but I can't figure out why it is that strange.

But you're right I think the AB'ers have live up to the challenge. And I think, even I have no right to decide since I'm not English, that the English national dress should be ALL of the above. It will look stunning, and get everyones attention! ;0)

[Scyld]

There IS a national costume for England. It could have been revived due to the derision of our Brythonic neighbours,who maintained that we have no dress sense.
It seems to be both stylish and simple,since it is modelled on a seventh century Kent original.
I like it,and may save up to get one for before the London Olympics.
http://www.englandandenglishhistory.com/offici al_traditional_english_national_dress/introduc tion/default.aspx

[Wrothgar]

Yes England does have an English National Dress or English National Costume.

See:

http://www.englandandenglishhistory.com/offici al_traditional_english_national_dress/introduc tion/default.aspx

[Scyld]

There IS an English National costume, so the sneering from our Welsh and Scottish ' friends' will have to stop( especially as in both cases THEIRS were invented by English designers).The Scots kilt was the work of Thomas Rawlinson
in the 18th century whilst Augusta Hall invented the Welsh Witch look in the 19th century.
ENGLISH NATIONAL DRESS Check it at
http://www.englandandenglishhistory.com/offici al_traditional_english_national_dress/introduc tion/default.aspx
The suit and bowler hat is clearly rubbish and the rest plain silly.

[Greenbhoy]

If only for time travel.
I see the website that has been recently linked a few times was created in 2007... 2 years AFTER my original question.

Would it be too bigheaded of me to think that perhaps the website owner is an ABer that was prompted to create the website and pose in some fetching attire as a result of my question? ;-)

[Scyld]

Greenbhoy,Don't kid yourself.
The rise of English identity is unstoppable. You just asked your question a bit ahead of the time. that's all.
The Scottish kilt incidentally was invented by Englishman -Thomas Rawlinson in the 18th century, and the Welsh outfit was invented by English woman Augusta Hall in the 19th century.
There is nothing wrong with invented tradition,but our English national dress is historically correct and replicates 7th century thegn dress.
http://www.englandandenglishhistory.com/offici al_traditional_english_national_dress/introduc tion/default.aspx

[Greenbhoy]

Scyld, I think you will find that Thomas Rawlinson invented the "modern kilt" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Rawlinson) as the kilt had been worn for hundreds of years previously (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt).

Nice try though. ;-)