Overview
About Icelandic National Costume
Designing the skautbúningur
The painter Sigurður Guðmundsson developed the skautbúningur in 1858–1860 as a formal women's costume associated with national consciousness. It combines a fitted jacket and gathered skirt with decorative embroidery and metal ornaments. Its distinctive white headdress is completed by a fillet and veil. Floral patterns in gold or silver thread can decorate the jacket and skirt, while a linked metal belt forms part of the ensemble. The costume illustrates how an intentionally designed nineteenth-century garment became part of a national tradition.
Men's clothing and handwork
Traditional men's costume commonly uses dark homespun cloth for a jacket and knee breeches. A waistcoat, braces, woollen stockings and a cap complete the main clothing layers; historical footwear included shoes made from leather or fish skin. Braces could be tablet-woven, and waistcoats were made in both knitted and woven forms. These details preserve a range of textile skills within the clothing itself. Understanding national dress therefore involves its making and materials as well as its ceremonial appearance.
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