Appearance of Kurgan citizens in the 1920's-1930's (based on photographic documents)

Revolution of 1917 in Russia led to radical changes in all areas of the country's society. After recovering from the effects of the civil war, manufacturing workers and first Soviet designers began to implement the ideas of socialism in clothes. Fashionable outfits and modern fabrics, however, were available not for every Moscow or Leningrad citizen during the first post-revolutionary decade, saying nothing about the province. Citizens of the province usually learnt about metropolitan latest trends with a significant delay. Innovative ideas of the first Soviet designers could not be in demand among back country citizens for understandable reasons. All metropolitan clothing and hairstyle developments came to Kurgan with such a delay that fashion never forgives. The use of the rich body of photo resources from the State Archive and private collections enables a researcher not only to see in the pictures Kurgan citizens of the 1920's-1930's but also identify a special character of the Trans-Ural province wardrobe. Special attention is drawn to the wardrobe peculiarities of the members of the younger and older generations. Middle-aged and elderly women remained loyal to the traditional ankle-deep skirts and tightly buttoned shirts during the 1920's-1930's. At the same time young city-women decide to try short haircuts and knee-length skirts, following the metropolitan trends. In the second half of the 1930's the wardrobe of Kurgan citizens changed significantly: knitted fabrics come to the city, the range of colours and textures broadens. Men (including schoolboys) more often prefer single-breasted suits with notched collars to traditional kosovorotka shirts. In the early 1940's kosovorotka shirts went out of use in Kurgan. High box calf boots served as men's holiday footwear for a long time. In everyday life men wore boots made of cow leather. In bad weather men and women wore galoshes and sandals in the summer. Women had low-heeled court shoes for special occasions. Felt boots remained traditional winter footwear in province. Outdoor clothes of Kurgan citizens underwent least changes over the period under review. Double-breasted overcoat with a turn-down or notched collar (with or without fur) remained as a classical item in the wardrobe of the most people. In the provincial city of Kurgan with the level and calm life citizens' clothes for various reasons preserved pre-revolutionary features for a long time. Members of the older generation of Kurgan citizens who remained devout believers despite anti-religious campaign, in the 1920's-1930's did not change their traditional clothes and hairstyle. The young people who grew up in the Soviet period already, actively absorbed latest trends including changes in appearance.

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