This skirt was made in 1976 exclusively for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There's a lovely row of stitched embroidery in traditional Ukranian / Russian peasant style at the hem. The skirt closes with buttons at each side of the hips, and these buttons form pockets when worn. The skirt is vibrant and colorful, the materials are not faded by wash or wear. This is an exact replica of a peasant piece that was on display (last photo) which could be purchased in the MET gift shop after the exhibit. There's one spot with stains on the embroidery on the back of the skirt. The last two photos are the ORIGINAL MET SKIRT this is modeled after, and an article on the exhibit. For more information...read on.

"The Glory of Russian Costume”, opening in 1976 and running to August 1977. Jackie Kennedy Onassis was the chairman of the Gala event, which benefitted the MET's costume institute. Prior to the show, she herself traveled abroad with the director of the MET, Thomas Hoving. She was working in publishing at Viking Press, and planning a book to accompany the exhibit. This skirt was manufactured for the MET as a replica of one of the peasant pieces they had on display. The NYT in 1976 wrote "But equally astonishing are the peasant clothes with their meticulous embroidery and ribbon detail and all making use of a vivid red. The shapes are big and voluminous and there is widespread use of layering, involving shirts, the sarafan (a kind of jumper), aprons and underskirts."