Bindalli Wedding Dress

Made of wine-colored silk velvet, this bindalli (bindallı in Turkish) dress differs from others in the collection in a number of ways, but still displays two of the key elements of this kind of dress: the velvet fabric and the extensive gold dival embroidery employing floral designs. The structure of the dress, with a very long front opening, small stand up collar and bell-shaped sleeves may indicate an origin in the Balkans (the dress was originally purchased from a family in Albania). Darts or pleats at the waist create a much more fitted silhouette for the garment than is typically the case. The large bows which gather together the floral sprays on the bodice and sleeves are quite unusual, although the flowers themselves resemble those found on other bindalli dresses. The bindalli dress was worn by both Muslim and Jewish women of different economic classes in the Balkans and Anatolia for weddings and other special occasions, beginning in the second half of the nineteenth century. As this example shows, regional variations for the dress emerged in response to local taste and fashion traditions.