What is the traditional Swedish dress called?

The most common national folk costume is called the Sverigedräkten (the Sweden dress), which features the national colors of blue and yellow.

How do I make a DIY Swedish folk costume?

You can easily assemble one using a royal blue skirt, a bright yellow waist apron, a white long-sleeved blouse, and a black lace-up vest decorated with floral fabric paint or patches.

When do people wear the Sverigedräkten?

It is traditionally worn during festive cultural occasions, most notably Midsummer Eve, Swedish National Day (June 6th), and formal heritage events.

AI-generated example

Traditional Swedish Dress Costume

Embrace Scandinavian heritage with the iconic blue and yellow Sverigedräkten folk dress.

The traditional Swedish dress, known as the Sverigedräkten, is a historic folk costume featuring Sweden's national colors of blue and yellow. Introduced in the early 20th century, it is widely worn during Midsummer and National Day celebrations. This look consists of a white peasant blouse, a royal blue skirt, a bright yellow apron, and an embroidered vest.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $40–120

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What you need for a Traditional Swedish Dress costume

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Spirit Halloween sells the complete Traditional Swedish Dress costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.

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White peasant blouse
A long-sleeved white cotton blouse with a high collar and slightly ruffled cuffs.
DIY: Use a plain white long-sleeve button-down shirt and roll the cuffs slightly.
Amazon
Royal blue midi skirt
An A-line or pleated skirt in a vibrant royal blue color, falling below the knee.
DIY: Drape and pin royal blue fabric around an elastic waistband.
Amazon
Bright yellow apron
A simple cotton waist apron in bright yellow, tied at the back.
DIY: Cut a rectangle of yellow cotton fabric, hem the edges, and sew a yellow ribbon to the top for waist ties.
Amazon
Black or dark blue laced vest
A structured, sleeveless bodice that laces up the front, ideally featuring floral embroidery.
DIY: Use a plain black vest and add floral iron-on patches or fabric paint along the front edges.
Amazon
White headscarf
A white triangular cotton scarf tied at the back of the head.
DIY: Fold a square white cotton handkerchief diagonally into a triangle.
Amazon
Silver brooch
A decorative silver brooch pinned at the center of the blouse collar.
DIY: Use any vintage silver-toned circular brooch or pin.
Amazon
Black Mary Jane shoes
Classic black leather low-heeled shoes worn with white tights.
DIY: Use plain black flats or low-heeled loafers.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Traditional Swedish Dress costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the white peasant blouse, buttoning it fully to the collar.
2
Step into the royal blue midi skirt and secure it comfortably at your natural waist.
3
Tie the bright yellow apron around your waist so it sits centered over the front of the blue skirt.
4
Layer the black laced vest over the blouse, tightening the front laces for a snug fit.
5
Pin the silver brooch at the center of the blouse collar just below your throat.
6
Fold the white headscarf into a triangle, place it over your hair, and tie the ends at the back of your neck.
7
Put on white tights or knee-high socks, followed by the black Mary Jane shoes.

Makeup & hair

Keep makeup natural with a fresh complexion and light pink blush. Style hair in two classic side braids or pin it up neatly under the white headscarf.

Traditional Swedish Dress for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair with a partner wearing a traditional Swedish men's folk costume featuring yellow breeches, a blue vest, and a white shirt.
group: Gather a group to represent different regional Swedish parish costumes (sockendräkt) with varying color schemes.
kids: A miniature version with a simple blue dress, attached yellow apron, and a white cotton bonnet.
Plus size: Opt for an A-line blue skirt with an elastic waistband and a lace-up vest that offers adjustable sizing.
pet: A blue and yellow bandana paired with a small yellow felt apron.

Tips

Use iron-on floral patches to easily add traditional embroidery details to a plain black vest.
Ensure the apron is slightly shorter than the skirt so the blue hem is visible at the bottom.
Wear comfortable, broken-in black flats or Mary Janes if you plan on dancing or walking a lot.

Traditional Swedish Dress costume FAQ

What is the traditional Swedish dress called?: The most common national folk costume is called the Sverigedräkten (the Sweden dress), which features the national colors of blue and yellow.
How do I make a DIY Swedish folk costume?: You can easily assemble one using a royal blue skirt, a bright yellow waist apron, a white long-sleeved blouse, and a black lace-up vest decorated with floral fabric paint or patches.
When do people wear the Sverigedräkten?: It is traditionally worn during festive cultural occasions, most notably Midsummer Eve, Swedish National Day (June 6th), and formal heritage events.

Did you know? The Sverigedräkten was designed in 1902 by Märta Jörgensen to promote a national identity and free women from the restrictive corsets of high fashion.