Traditional dances have been performed in Ireland since the days of the Celts and Druids, though not much is said about dress styles. Some of the earliest writings concerning female dancers' attire were in 16th century England. Sir Henry Sydney wrote about Irish women he saw dancing jigs in the streets, telling Queen Elizabeth, "They are very beautiful, magnificently dressed and first class dancers," according to Irelandseye.com.
In the 18th and even the early 19th century, no defined Irish costume for dancing existed. Women would simply put on their best dresses and perhaps adorn themselves with colorful flower and cross-shaped ribbons, reports Diochra.com. The time would soon come, however, when Irish dance dresses would undergo tremendous changes.
A new kind of dancing costume came about by the 1897 formation of the Gaelic League, whose main function was to promote Irish culture, music, sports and dance. The style known as the "Colleen Bawn" consisted of a dress, apron and hooded cloak, and was often worn by stage performers, according to Diochra.com. This trend fell out of favor by the 1910s, however, because of its reinforcement of negative Irish stereotypes.
The simple fashions of the early 20th century made way for more elaborate uses of embroidery, color and fabric choices. White was still the most popular dress color, with a shawl or cloak draped over one or both shoulders, Diochra.com states. Dresses were commonly embellished with green, crimson or saffron-colored thread used to create delicate "Celtic knotwork" designs. By the 1930s, the standard dress was one solid color with a small shawl, cords around the waist and small amounts of embroidery. The level of embroidery continued to rise until it reached a maximum in the 1970s.
In the 1990s, dressmakers began to use satin applique along with embroidery. They also experimented with lighter fabrics, Diochra.com reports, thus greatly alleviating overheating. Traditional designs are beginning to be overlooked, particularly in the competitive dance arena, as dancers are attracted to glittery eye-catching ornamentation for their costumes, rather than adhering to historically accurate Celtic designs. However, this break from tradition does not seem to detract from the dance, which continues to take the audience's breath away.