top of page
Vejle County, Jylland
Vejle County folk costume (circa 1790-1800)
from "Folkedragter i Danmark" by Ellen Andersen, 1952
Right up to circa 1800, peasant men wore their hair long, and the longer, the better. It was an imitation of the allonge wigs of the Baroque period. However, peasants never wore wigs. Going without a wig was called "walking in one's own hair." In the late 1700s, itinerant peddler men from Holstein began wearing their hair shorter and over time that fashion spread throughout Denmark to some extent.
​
In the above image, the breeches are made of deerskin and use silver-gilded buttons. The wool socks are knitted in stockinette, or stocking, stitch. A Rhinelander scarf is worn around the neck.
The original Vejle vest from the National Museum!
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk
Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard
Bjerre Herred, Vejle County
In 1979, the predecessor organization to the Danish Folk Costume Society put on an exhibition, displaying the finest examples of Vejle County costumes. Above are Bjerre Herred.
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk
A lovely Bjerre Herred costume seen in Solvang, CA.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Regarding whether Bjerre Herred has a men's vest pattern unique to the region there is some conflicting information. Kamma Gudmand-Høyer, author of a book on folk clothing, suggests that the "flower pot" vest pattern above originated in "Bjerre Herred/Horsens." However, the Danske Folkedragtforum indicates that it was used throughout Denmark. I suppose both could be true if the flower pot pattern arose near Horsens and became widely popular.
Image credit: DanishFolkCostumes.com
Brande Parish, Nørvang Herred, Vejle County
Brande Parish Costume
The model for this costume was previously housed at a museum in Grindsted, Denmark (just west of Billund). The bodice is made of hvergarn, and is brown with red, green and white vertical stripes.
Red nattrøje sweater and red wadmal skirt, but they could be other colors such as a green sweater and a brown skirt. The apron is printed. The headgear shown here (with so-called "beard" ribbon under the chin) is distinctive for Østjylland from Silkeborg down to Kolding, but not Vestjylland.
Image credit: Folkedragt.dk
Probable Vejle County, as headgear and bodice appear to match
This Karen K drawing purports to depict "Vejle"
Image Credit: Mikael Bjerregaard
bottom of page