Strandby, Funen (Fyn)
Overview
​Interestingly, Strandby is a small village on Funen (Fyn) Island. It was so small that it was neither a parish nor a herred (a herred historically contained several parishes). Yet through happenstance the 1800s attire of this sleepy hamlet rose to national prominence to become one of Denmark's signature folk costumes!
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Like Hedebo, people in Strandby seem to have worn different colored costumes depending on the season. Thus, there are believed to be several Strandby women's costumes:
a. Red Strandby - Worn in Summer and for Pentecost. This was the fanciest Strandby costume and became by far its most famous. Its colors match the Dannebrog, making it appear quite Danish to most who see it.
b. Green Strandby - Worn in Spring and for Easter.
c. Blue Strandby - Worn in Winter and for Christmas.
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Acknowledgments
This author owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Esther Grølsted, former National Museum of Denmark costume director, for her insight and generosity in sharing her expertise and museum reference materials. Further, one of the costumes displayed on this page was made entirely by Esther in 2025, and one would be hard pressed to find a higher level of Danish folk costume craftsmanship and historical authenticity anywhere in the world. This page would not be what it is without her contributions and kindness.
Women's Costumes
Red Strandby
Red Strandby Overview
One of the most famous Danish folk costumes, the "Red Strandby" is striking in several ways. Because of its beauty and perceived "Danishness" (it features a lot of red and white), this costume is popular with many Danish costume aficionados. According to Esther Grølsted, Costume/Textile Director for the National Museum of Denmark, in 1938 the museum received a donation of two women's bodices and a skirt believed to have been worn by two sisters in Strandby: Anne Kirstine Olesdatter (1809-1845) and Elisabeth Marie Olesdatter (born 1816, married 1848, died ?).
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Red Strandby Elements
a. Lack of Scarf: unusually, the neck and upper shoulders are uncovered due to a lack of a scarf and a wider neckline on the blouse. In its time, this prompted "outrage" from conservative corners of society.
b. Bodice: a red bodice, the bottom of which is not covered by the apron (a relative rarity in Denmark). We know this because the embroidery often appears on the so-called "lap" of the bodice, and a woman would not want to cover it or risk damaging it with an apron. There are at least two embroidery patterns: 1820s, 1840, and perhaps others.
c. Embroidery: the bodice has embroidery on it (quite rare) which was typically silk. Elsewhere in Denmark, embroidery was found only on the headdress, scarf, apron, or shirt. The only other costume that would have embroidery on the bodice or jacket would be certain variants from Østerjylland.
d. Headgear: the silk headgear features blindfold-like earflaps. Underneath it sits a linen cap that has matching frills that go all the way to the cheeks.
e. Shirt: the shirt (særk) has a frill at the neck made of fine Swiss dot fabric (“mol” in Danish).
f. Apron: the apron has a distinctive checkerboard pattern.
g. Skirt: a red wool skirt with vertical stripes. There appear to have been two versions, one with wider yellow striping.
h. Nattrøje: a red sweater worn under the bodice, typically one knitted in the Danske Stjernetrøjer pattern.
Shown above is the actual 1820s Red Strandby bodice photographed circa 1952 at the National Museum's open air museum.
Image Credit: "Folkedragter i Danmark" by Ellen Andersen, 1952
The "Red Strandby" Costume
from "Danske Folke Dragter" by Nanna Gandil, 1972
Red Strandby costume made by Esther Grølsted, former National Museum of Denmark costume director, 2025. The embroidery work uses silk threads and "shadow" technique.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Red Strandby based on the 1840 original, but with the rear button added from the 1820s original. Skirt fabric woven in 1970s.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Red Strandby made by Esther Grølsted based on the 1820s original.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Red Strandby woman
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk
A very accurate recreation of the 1820s original
Image credit: Brønshøj Folk Dancers
Red Strandby skirt close-up (rear view)
Image credit: Inger Jörgensen
Red Strandby skirt close-up of Danish Sisterhood of Denver costume
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Red Strandby skirt close-ups
This fabric was woven in the 1970s and came from none other than Esther Grølsted of the National Museum of Denmark, so the pattern and colors are 100% correct.
Upon close inspection, what had initially appeared to be a vertical black-and-white dashed line actually turns out to be dark brown-and-white. By contrast, the yellow-and-black dashed line does indeed use black thread.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
An utterly remarkable feat of embroidery work on this recreation of the 1840 original bodice! This costume is a treasure and must have taken countless hours to create.
Image credit: Inger Jörgensen
A lovely Red Strandby costume proudly owned by a member of Danish Sisterhood of Denver. The embroidery work is a painstakingly accurate recreation of the original 1820s bodice. This beautiful costume features a lace-up bodice, much like that on the original 1840 garment (see discussion below).
A painstakingly accurate (and beautiful) bonnet owned by Danish Sisterhood of Denver
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Apron fabric close-up
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
Image Credit: Ballerup Folkedanserforening
Spotted in Trondheim, Norway. An appropriately Norwegian twist on the lovely bodice by using a silver fastening chain.
Image Credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
The Original Red Strandby Garments
Compared to other historical "museum piece" garments of from their era (1820s-1840), these are strikingly colorful, ornate and flat-out gorgeous. They are virtually peerless, which begs the question of who made them and how could Ole Hvalsøe, a 48-year-old barrel maker originally from Slesvig (according to the 1834 census) have afforded to have them made for his two daughters. Ole had a wife and his 89-year-old mother-in-law living in his household, so perhaps they were responsible for these remarkable works of artistry. As for the skirt, presumably the now forgotten Strandby village weaver is responsible for having created one of the most famous and beloved Danish fabric patterns of all time. All in all, the combination of these remarkable bodices with this stunning skirt pattern and the red-and-white nature of it all created a "perfect storm" of a costume that has become wildly popular despite Strandby's diminutive size. It's not unlike the tiny town of Duffel, Belgium giving the world the duffel bag.
One of two original Red Strandby bodices, made circa 1820s. Donated to National Museum 1938.
Image Credit: National Museum of Denmark; samlinger.natmus.dk
One of two original Red Strandby bodices, made circa 1840. Donated to National Museum 1938. Note the three holes on the bodice front for lacing, which may have been secondary to a hook or pin closure.
Image Credit: National Museum of Denmark; samlinger.natmus.dk
The original Red Strandby skirt, made circa 1840 (the white striping suggests that this skirt goes with the 1840 bodice). Donated to National Museum 1938.
Image Credit: National Museum of Denmark; samlinger.natmus.dk
"Yellow" Strandby Variant
Overview
Some might reasonably choose to call this Red Strandby variant the "Yellow Strandby." It is an authentic 1850 variant of the Red Strandby that was donated to the National Museum of Denmark. The only difference is with the skirt pattern. Close examination of the Yellow and Red Strandby skirts reveal that they are essentially the same pattern, but the Yellow variant has much wider stripes.
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"Yellow" Strandby vs Red Strandby - Which Came First?
The National Museum's Red Strandby is believed to be from the period 1820-1840, and its "Yellow" Strandby variant is suspected to have been created later. However, there is no way to know with certainty which came first, as garments that were donated to the National Museum in the 1900s obviously represent only a sliver of those actually worn. It is possible that the wider-striped Yellow Strandby variant was the original as it appears to be more elaborate. Over time, perhaps weavers or customers preferred the simplified (and now more common) Red Strandby we know today. Between 1830 and 1870, Denmark experienced a surge in Danish nationalism. Maybe narrowing the yellow stripes caused the outfit to appear more red-and-white, and thus more "Danish."
This is the alternate skirt pattern with thicker yellow stripes
Image Credit: Amager Folkedansere
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
Ilona Bokær-Pedersen (Red Strandby) and Poul Strunck (Odense Men's Suit) of Hjallese Folk Dancers, 1977
Image Credit: Arkiv.dk
Hjallese Folk Dancers, 1964
Image Credit: Arkiv.dk
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers
Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard
Green Strandby
Supposedly this is the much rarer "Green Strandby," due to the skirt color. Despite the poor image resolution, I believe these three images all show the same costume. The images on the left and right show the costume worn by Bente Larsen of the Hjallese Folk Dancers in 1977.
Image credit: Arkiv.dk
A charming scene depicting Red Strandby (center) and Green Strandby (sides) costumes in a historical recreation.
Image credit: Arkiv.dk
Blue Strandby
Men's Costumes
