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Description
Sweden and Finland wearing the so-called "nationella dräkten" (national costume).

The costume was introduced in 1778 by king Gustav III, hoping to stop the nobility from spending too much on luxury fashion. Gustav III had become king in 1771, and the year after, he had peacefully enacted a coup, giving himself more power to decide stuff. This started "the Gustavian era". Gustav III, and enlightened despot, was actually pretty good at ruling the country by himself, but he did also have several enemies, and the dislike of him increased as he laid even more power into his own hands, but didn't solve the nation's problems well enough. Hence in 1792, the King was shot at a masquerade ball. His teenaged son Gustav IV took over, but he didn't really have what it takes to be an absolute monarch (being generally viewed as Sweden's worst king ever). In 1809, after he had managed to lose Finland to Russia, Gustav IV was deposed by another coup, and the king's power was once again reduced, ending the Gustavian era.

Anyway, back to the point: the national costume became mandatory at the court, and at various other official situations, like some kind of uniform. Certain colours (Black+red and light blue+white, I believe) were reserved for the nobility. I think there were more complicated rules for the colours and decorations depending on what your role in sociely was, but sadly I don't know the details. In this drawing I decided to simply go with the flag colours of the countries.

Genarally, the Swedish national costume was hated by pretty much everyone who was forced to wear it. However, I have also heard it was a bit more popular later, becoming something of a patriotic symbyl as an "urban folk costume" in the early 19th century. I have heard that the national costume continued to be used in certain official ceremonies way into the next century, such as university promotions, and that this became a pain in the ass for everyone involved since it became really difficult to find this outdated costume anywhere.

I believe Hima drew Sweden wearing this outfit somewhere as well, but I didn't know that when I started this drawing.
tumblr reblog: sildesalaten.tumblr.com/post/1…

Description
Sweden and Finland wearing the so-called "nationella dräkten" (national costume).

The costume was introduced in 1778 by king Gustav III, hoping to stop the nobility from spending too much on luxury fashion. Gustav III had become king in 1771, and the year after, he had peacefully enacted a coup, giving himself more power to decide stuff. This started "the Gustavian era". Gustav III, and enlightened despot, was actually pretty good at ruling the country by himself, but he did also have several enemies, and the dislike of him increased as he laid even more power into his own hands, but didn't solve the nation's problems well enough. Hence in 1792, the King was shot at a masquerade ball. His teenaged son Gustav IV took over, but he didn't really have what it takes to be an absolute monarch (being generally viewed as Sweden's worst king ever). In 1809, after he had managed to lose Finland to Russia, Gustav IV was deposed by another coup, and the king's power was once again reduced, ending the Gustavian era.

Anyway, back to the point: the national costume became mandatory at the court, and at various other official situations, like some kind of uniform. Certain colours (Black+red and light blue+white, I believe) were reserved for the nobility. I think there were more complicated rules for the colours and decorations depending on what your role in sociely was, but sadly I don't know the details. In this drawing I decided to simply go with the flag colours of the countries.

Genarally, the Swedish national costume was hated by pretty much everyone who was forced to wear it. However, I have also heard it was a bit more popular later, becoming something of a patriotic symbyl as an "urban folk costume" in the early 19th century. I have heard that the national costume continued to be used in certain official ceremonies way into the next century, such as university promotions, and that this became a pain in the ass for everyone involved since it became really difficult to find this outdated costume anywhere.

I believe Hima drew Sweden wearing this outfit somewhere as well, but I didn't know that when I started this drawing.
tumblr reblog: sildesalaten.tumblr.com/post/1…