Tåsinge Island

Popularity of Empire Period Fashion
According to Ellen Andersen's 1952 book "Folkedragter in Danmark," Empire Period fashions (i.e., very high waist) endured longer on Tåsinge Island than elsewhere in Denmark.
Elements of the Tåsinge Women's Costume
Headgear
The most notable element of the Tåsinge folk costume was the unusual headgear. Two strongly stiffened large pieces of linen had a piece of red or pink paper placed between them for further stiffening. On top of this linen sits a small, finely embroidered hat (called a "hætte").
Hatbands
Unmarried girls typically wore green hatbands, though they could also wear blue. Married women always wore black.
Scarf
The scarf is of checkered silk.
Bodice
The bodice is made of dark blue wadmal wool.
Sweater
The sweater (called a "nattrøje") was red.
Skirt
The skirt was typically red-black, but could also be yellow!
Those familiar with Danish folk costumes will be aware that the color yellow is almost never seen, except for Læsø aprons and occasional Sønderjylland jackets. However, Andersen's seminal text reports that yellow skirts were quite common on Tåsinge! We know this because probate records recorded the items of clothing that were passed on at death to a decedent's heirs.
Apron
The apron was made of red-and-white checkered linen. Notably, the apron wraps more than 3/4 of the way around the waist.
Elements of the Tåsinge Men's Costume
According to Karen B. Hansen of Folkedragt.dk, it does not appear that there was a regional men's costume for Tåsinge. A man's costume found on Tåsinge can be seen below, but there is nothing particularly distinctive about it that sets it apart from other regions within Denmark. Such is frequently the case with men's folk costumes.



The bright colors used on this costume really pop.
Image Credit (right): Sjællandske Nyheder

Image Credit: Folk Costumes: Rural Life in the Age of Community (Folkedragter: Landboliv i Fællesskabets Tid); Minna Kragelund, 1978


Am excellent historical recreation of the 1952 Ellen Andersen and 1978 Minna Kragelund historical photographs/drawings. A very fine costume!
Image Credit: Faaborg Folk Dancers

Image Credit: Stevns Folkedansere


In 1979, the predecessor organization to the Danish Folk Costume Society put on an exhibition, displaying the finest example of the Tåsinge costume.
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk

Tåsinge woman, 1840
Image credit:Licensed from Folkedragt.dk

Tåsinge woman
Image credit:Licensed from Folkedragt.dk




Tåsinge Island girl, 1830-1840
from "Folkedragter i Danmark" by Ellen Andersen, 1952

Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard
