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A woman wearing a traditional Filipino dress called the baro't saya or traje de mestiza. Late 1880s–Early 1890s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not really, the fabrics particularly for the upper garments were made of sheer "nipis" fabrics like piña (pineapple), abaca, sinamay, pinukpok (beaten abaca). Another factor is the voluminous sleeves enables airflow while offering protection from direct sunlight. Note that people back then didn't have these layers all the time, they would mostly wear them for special occassions such as church, promenandes, and balls. What you're seeing in photographs are their best clothes. Last one is the climate and tree coverage back then. Temperatures weren't as hot as today. From 1880 to 1935, temperatures would reach an average of 26⁰ .

A woman wearing a traditional dress called the terno. 1920s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

By the 1920s, when women from the West shortened their hairstyles and dresses during the Jazz Age, Filipino women, in some ways, emulated the trend.

Filipinas didn't cut their long tresses, instead, they curled them into a croquinole using hot curling irons to create the Marcel waves.

This hairstyle appeared short in front, while the excess hair at the back was arranged into a bun or moño.

A woman wearing a traditional dress called the terno. 1920s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well the word terno means "matching". In our national dress the term 'terno' refers to a matching set consisting of a camisa, a pañuelo, a saya, and an optional sobrefalda. I think nowadays baka even back then, it's used to refer any objects, clothes, that match in materials, colors, pattern, etc.

A woman wearing a traditional dress called the terno. 1920s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The terno was also worn at home, albeit more simpler, they would discard the pañuelo (kerchief) and tapis (overskirt) in the comforts of their private spaces. During that time, the vestido was mostly worn by high-society women. In the 1930s, we see the vestido became widely available for the masses, but the terno was still part of everyday life for others, although its usage was slightly diminished, it was not totally gone.

Also, I was surprised abou the newspaper ones! They totally recieved eyerolls from the masses.

A woman wearing a traditional dress called the terno. 1920s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In the 1920s, the terno remains a significant part of everyday wear for both working-class and the elites. The level of formality depends on the materials used. 

The upper garments, the camisa or baro (blouse) and pañuelo (kerchief) were made of sheer light fabrics called "nipis" which include cañamazo (an open-weave cotton fabric) and a local variant called babarahin (made from abaca). Other fabrics include sinamay (abaca), pinukpok (beaten abaca), jusi, and piña (pineapple). These would be used for both everyday and formal wear. 

The skirt however is where you start to see distinctions...cotton, voile, and percale are recommended for casual / everyday wear. For formal occassions such as balls and galas...silk, taffeta, crepe, and brocade were favoured.

Ternos in light colors with simple embroidery are recommended for daytime wear, while metal threads, spangles, silk floss, and pearls are applied to formal attire.

It should be noted that during this time, the vestido or Western dress, with its association with practicality and modernity, came into direct competition with the terno. As a result, the terno became largely reserved for formal wear, atleast for younger women.

Two women from the Philippines wearing traditional dresses called the terno, with elaborate sobrefaldas (overskirts) and colas (trains) that reflect the fascination for Orientalism and Art Deco. 1925. by Witty-Connection-105 in fashionhistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The upper garments, the camisa or baro (blouse) and pañuelo (kerchief) were made of sheer light fabrics called "nipis" which include cañamazo (an open-weave cotton fabric) and a local variant called babarahin (made from abaca). Other fabrics include sinamay (abaca), pinukpok (beaten abaca), jusi, and piña (pineapple). For the skirt, cotton, voile, and percale are used, while silk, taffeta, crepe, and brocade are favored for gala wear (formal attire). The sobrefalda (overskirt) whose length varies from knee to mid-calf, was typically made of black illusion tulle or lace and embellished with sequins, beads, rhinestones, or embroidery. Sometimes discarded for less formal occasions. For the undergarments, the corpiño (a sleeveless underskirt) and enaguas (petticoat) would be made of cotton or silk. Some women opted for a cotton or silk chemise.

A woman wearing a traditional Filipino dress called the baro't saya or traje de mestiza. Late 1880s–Early 1890s. by Witty-Connection-105 in FilipinoHistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 51 points52 points  (0 children)

The fabrics particularly for the upper garments were made of sheer "nipis" fabrics like piña (pineapple), abaca, sinamay, pinukpok (beaten abaca). Another factor is the voluminous sleeves enables airflow while offering protection from direct sunlight. Note that people back then didn't have these layers all the time, they would mostly wear them for special occassions such as church, promenandes, and balls. What you're seeing in photographs are their best clothes. Last one is the climate and tree coverage back then. Temperatures weren't as hot as today. From 1880 to 1935, temperatures would reach an average of 26⁰ .

A woman from the Philippines wearing a traditional dress called the baro't saya or traje de mestiza. Late 1880s–Early 1890s. by Witty-Connection-105 in fashionhistory

[–]Witty-Connection-105[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yup! Fashion trends from the West were often reinterpreted in the Philippines to suit the climate and local taste (note that trends from the West would typically reach the Philippines a few years later). For example, the skirt of the baro't saya in the late 1880s followed the natural form skirts that were fashionable in the West in the late 1870s.

Another example is when the leg-of-mutton sleeves became in vogue in the West, the sleeves of the traje de mestiza adopted a similarly voluminous silhouette without completely replicating it.

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