Cloths

Mongolian clothes, as well as dwellings, if perfectly adapted to the nomadic lifestyle. Both men and women wear the same deli-gowns. They are sown from colored woolen, cotton and silk fabrics. Winter gowns are made of sheepskin, fur inside, and are covered with fabric on the outside. Gowns are lapped over from left to right, fastened at the collar and are belted with a wide (up to 40 cm) and long (7-8m) textile girdle. The gown fits tight and warms up one’s waist, which is very important taking into account the severe climate and often horse rides.

Mongolian clothes have no pockets. They are replaced with a cavity formed by the inner and outer laps of a gown. Men carry in it a tobacco pouch and other necessary things. An adult man’s costume used to be supplemented with a belt set: a knife in a sheath, fire steel and flint. Women, depending on their status and well-being wore a lot of jewelry: earrings, braid decorations, massive silver breast-plates with corals and turquoise. In the past they wore complex “winged” hair-styles with silver decorations on them. Khalka-Mongol women were distinguished for their most intricate hair-styles.

Noble people often wore a wide cardigan fastened on the chest over their gowns which their adopted from the Manchurians. Dukes and officials wore gowns in Chinese and Manchurian styles with woven and embroidered images pointing to their status in the hierarchy. If the weather was bad a raincoat with a hood made of red cloth with a yellow hem was worn over a gown. Men’s underwear consisted of pants and a shirt, usually made of cotton. The prototype of such pants is ancient pants made of animal skins. National boots (gutuls) were made of durable leather or textile on a thick, multi-layer sole. For warming felt stockings were put inside with embroidered edges sticking out of the top of the boot. Boots had noses which were turned up to make putting one’s leg into a stirrup more convenient. Lamas referred to such form as to the one which does not desecrate earth. At present many Mongols still stick to the traditional clothes.

Costume of rich married woman. Mongolia. Ulan-Bator. Mongols. 1930s.		Man in winter costume. Mongolia. Ulan-Bator. Mongols. 1930s.		Costume of rich married woman. Mongolia. Ulan-Bator. Mongols. 1930s.
Vest. Mongolia. The Mongols. Early 20th c.		High boots. Mongolia, 20th c.		Valise. Mongolia. The Mongols. 20th century.
A woman in traditional cloths - deli (a type of vest). Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		Mongolian man in traditional vest. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.		Traditional vast is not a barrier against fashionable bag and sunglasses. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D., 2006.
In Mongolia Buddhist monk's costume consists of red monks coat and traditional vest with folded cuffs. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D.		Traditional cotume is still in everyday life. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ulan Bator Saifieva A., 2006.		Mongolian woman in reconstructed 13th centiry costume. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.
Costume of a wealthy Mongolian man. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		Mongolian woman in reconstructed historic costume. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.		Horsemen in medieval costumes. A celebration of the 800th anniversary of Mongolian state establishment. Mongolia. The Mongols. Rykin P., 2006.
One can meet people in traditional vests at bus stations in Ulan Bator. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D., 2006.		Portrait of Tushetu Khan. The Mongols. Early 20th century.