'Improper' dress in the time of the Knights

During the time of the Knights of the Order of St John, foreigners used to think Maltese women dressed improperly, according to the latest book in the Kullana Kulturali series published by Publikazzjonijiet Independenza.

Vincent Zammit, the author of Il-Kostum Malti u d-Drapp fl-Istorja ta' Malta (Maltese Costume and Cloth in Maltese History) writes that the bodice used to be worn just under their breasts, which were covered only by a veil.

Foreigners used to remark that the veil was so transparent that the women's breasts were not properly covered. "On the contrary, they used to be uncovered for all who wanted to see..." writes Mr Zammit.

However, it was only foreign men who used to take notice; the Maltese men were used to it, he adds.

At the other extreme was the faldetta, which women ware over their clothes and covered their head. It was worn for many centuries. Mr Zammit notes that paintings from the Knights of St John era show that many women used to go about barefoot, indicating the level of poverty on the islands at the time. Maltese people used to dress in their Sunday beston feast days, a tradiational custom until a few years ago.

The Kullana Kulturali builds up into an encyclopaedia of culture. Three volumes are published every quarter.