‘Amalia’ costume from Athens, Greece

The urban costume of the Peloponnese spread to other parts of Greece after 1837, when Amalia, the first Queen of Greece, adopted it as the official court dress, combining the Biedermeier style with the local “kavadi” (a dress of rich brocade) and “zipouni” (jacket). This costume was widely worn in Athens, among other places. The kavadi is made of taffeta, with an open bodice to show the neck opening of the chemise. The “kondogouni” (jacket) is of aubergine velvet, gold-embroidered and very close-fitting. The cap is a kalpak (“kalpaki”). Married women wore a tasselled fez which they covered with black lace when they went to church. Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Collection