Krakowiak

The town of Krakow used to be the capital of Poland until the 16th century. The culture and costumes, with its variations, also come from around the city of Krakow.

One of the costumes that the men where is an embroidered sleeveless blue coat, decorated with brass buttons and tassels. They have striped white and red (or blue) trousers. The belt is often studded with brass, and attached to it are loops of jangling brass discs. Tall peacock feathers adorn a square, flat, red hat, trimmed with black.

The ladies where garlands and a small embroidered or sequined bodice, or a bodice appliquéd with braid and beads. The colourful skirts are printed with roses. They wear an apron of the same material, or one of lace.

The costume of Krakow is the one most often seen representing Poland, and so is often used to perform other national or regional dances.

The Krakowiak started as a medley of various local dances. In time it was adopted by the towns and nobility (szlachta) and it was refined and developed. It became so popular that it was danced throughout the country and so became a national dance and just like the costumes was most often seen to represent Polish folk culture.