Managed by the Cultural Association of Choirs and Dances, and located at its headquarters, this Museum exhibits different complete costumes on mannequins, the representative clothing used at the end of the 20th century. XIX and early s. XX, in Alcázar de San Juan.
Likewise, up to a hundred original garments, underwear, women’s and men’s, as well as accessories, scarves in different sizes and colors, fabrics, textures, mainly from wedding trousseaus, are shown in different panels. The costumes represent the use to which they were destined in the popular classes, around the chores, works and the parties, galas or acts and social events.
Among the pieces, the following stand out:
In WOMEN: brocade skirt and doublet of the same color, depending on the social status or habit for promises, age, … It is covered with a Manila shawl, sometimes also with a carpeted scarf or kerchief, eight-pointed scarf with and without “spider” of Kashmir, headdress or toquilla of goat hair. Tablecloth for ceremonies, white underwear of thread or cotton (pants or pololos, shirt, shirt, shirttail, undershirt, petticoat, undergarment, undergarment, white stockings with openwork or stripes and horizontal stripes. She wears low-heeled shoes or boots with a black ribbon knotted on the instep, her hair is combed with a bun of pleita, a bun or bun and, in some cases, doughnuts or buns next to the ear. She wears some complements such as a satchel or purse, earrings, necklaces, rosary beads, etc.
For MEN: the costume is the same in parsimony: pants, vest and jacket of corduroy or black cloth with black alpaca trimmings, black cape, collarless nightgown with golden buttons for important occasions. Plush or yarn breeches, socks, elastic shoe boots, sashes of different colors according to position or social status and age, headdress with a wide-brimmed hat and, in the winter, a cape and moustache cover.
The Manchego Costume Museum opened its doors, as a novelty and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Choirs and Dances, on Friday, August 8, 2014, in the VI Heritage Night alcazareña, as a way to value the intangible heritage of a part of the history of Alcazar de San Juan and its people.
