Gzhel Masquerade Costume (men's)

The traditional white and blue patterns of Gzhel on this traditional Russian kosovorotka shirt may come to symbolize the whole of the Russian culture that at first seems to be quite simple, maybe slightly ordinary, like its endless fields that stretch for countless miles in all directions, seldom interspersed with shy and unnervingly lonely trees. But look closer and the blue patterns begin to unravel into multi-leveled stories of things that were and things that will be, stylistically mimicking the unfolding of the true Russian land, more varied, really, than any other land in the world. The true amalgamation of all of these symbols of Russia, from its history, to its land, and to its people, is the underlying, driving reason for how special and dear costumes, such as this, are to their people. With the kosovorotka shirt being paired with a traditional kartuz hat, it is difficult to imagine a more emotionally charged national costume than this!