What is this?

Ashcombe

I agree with ixion that a local dance school, amdram society or museum are all good suggestions.

A dress historian would be horrified at the dance school or amdram society suggestion. An item of clothing 100 years old being used by either would fall apart in no time!

A museum that has a clothes/textiles collection would be the better bet; if only for assessment and advice on what to do with it.

Please do not bin it

Surely the hat (felt) has to be the clue?
I get the Norwegian thoughts, the skirt looks very authentic, but do they not wear cloth, lacy type headgear? I think Romania wears scarves.

I don't think it is worn today, other than st the Oktoberfest, but the Tyrolean hat was commonly made from green felt and featured feathers, flowers, or other ornaments in the hatband.

I forwarded this to Norwegian friends who say the neckline and embroidery could make it from Norway. However each region has its own and they only know of one with a striped skirt. Their suggestion is possibly Icelandic Upphlutur

I love this thread, so many helpful suggestions, and so many memories for me anyway.
When I was a child I used to perform national dances on stage at competitions. Our dance school was very fussy about the authenticity of the dress, (it gave added marks to win,). I remember my mum and me traipsing round the Embassies in London for pictures of the fabrics and styles. The Polish Embassy was particularly helpful and gave us a handful of beautiful postcards and afternoon tea! I wore a pretty headdress with flowers and ribbons in that dance.
I disliked my Russian dance, it was too energetic and the red boots were difficult to dance in. My friend used to perform a beautiful Dutch dance with clogs.
Sorry to wander and reminicse, and write it all down, but I guess that's what GN is about for many.

I got carried away and forgot to add, you could send a photo to a couple of Embassies to ask, though these days they might not be interested in such trivial stuff.

I imagine thee must have been an embroidered blouse to go under that little jacket.
Also, its pretty grubby, the white lining to the jacket and hat is generally discoloured and I feel I want to wash it.
The local museum may be able to help - thank you to those who came up with that idea. I'm not sure the skirt is authentic, it has the feeling of having been made on a modern sewing machine as it has an elasticated waist and no placket opening.
Oh the questions I wish I'd asked my Mum before she died!

ExDancer Try contacting the Victoria & Albert Museum, they helped me identify some items of antique clothing some years ago. If they can't help they may be able to direct you to someone who can. My first thought was Austrian, Swiss or German perhaps. It's really lovely and in great condition.

Edelweiss flower points to Austria

The embroidery could be from a number of countries in the Balkans, or Austria or Germany.

Drindls are worn in Austria the skirts are usually pleated with tiny pleats while German drindls are gathered. I have no idea whether Swiss drindls are pleated or gathered at the waist.

A museum of textiles, or one with a large collection of costumes might well be interested.

I've been in touch with a Norwegian friend and she believes it is Norwegian. She added a link
www.norskflid.no/bunad/bunader/
Not sure why that hasn't got a direct link (i.e. blue) but it will connect if highlighted.

Oh, it came up blue in the final post!!

Looks lovely.

Grannmarie

Maybe Austrian, from the Tyrol ?

I thought Tyrolean too - mainly the hat gives that impression. Can’t see from the photo whether it has the traditional feather.

Yes I agree with you it looks like Swiss outfit. If it’s old I’d take it to an antique shop myself because they might be more interested if you put on eBay etc it probably be a dealer that would buy it. If you go to a antique dealer they will tell you what it’s worth.

You could try googling the national costumes of the various countries suggested. To me it looks Bavarian and far too nice to throw out.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202301/medium-746959-kind-mit-typischen-tracht-tiroler-italien-2a9khp9.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202301/medium-226057-kinder-tragen-tradition-tiroler-kleidung-wahrend-einer-parade-am-jahrlichen-gauner-festival-in-zell-am-ziller-osterreich-7-mai-2017-reutersdominic-ebenbichler-2cm1hdd.jpg

It's the hat that has been bothering me and I delved a bit into German websites for more information. It was quite surprising that mostly the feather topped Tyrollean hats are worn by boys, so maybe there is a bit of poetic licence going on here by adding it to the girl's cistume?

Der Tiroler wird auch Jägerhut, Schützenhut oder Trachtenhut genannt. Er ist für seine charakteristische, spitzige Form bekannt.

It says the Tyrollean hat is known for its pointy shape a bit like in Exdancer's photo.

It's a Tyrolean dirndl! Lovely

ExDancer

I imagine thee must have been an embroidered blouse to go under that little jacket.
Also, its pretty grubby, the white lining to the jacket and hat is generally discoloured and I feel I want to wash it.
The local museum may be able to help - thank you to those who came up with that idea. I'm not sure the skirt is authentic, it has the feeling of having been made on a modern sewing machine as it has an elasticated waist and no placket opening.
Oh the questions I wish I'd asked my Mum before she died!

Don't wash it until you have sought advice . A museum may prefer to get it as is and do their own cleaning of it.

Beautiful and to be treasured xx

If you go into google images, you can upload your photo and compare - hopefully you'll get a match. I've done it once or twice, once a complete match, once a partial one. Worth a try!

I agree with it being a Scandinavian national costume but not sure from which country. It could be Danish each town has their own costume so there are lots of possibilities
Your mother must have had a certain connection I would imagine, I would be intrigued to find what that was if it was mine. What a lovely costume to own. Do tell us when you discover where it originates from please

I think it's down to Austria 🇦🇹, Switzerland 🇨🇭 or Denmark 🇩🇰 or Norway 🇳🇴 as all their flags are red. So, no real help there!!

It's lovely. You need to get a professional opinion. I would take it to a museum if it were mine. You could email one of the London ones to ask about it. Maybe the V and A?