| Topkapi Palace Museum |
| The Imperial Costumes Collection |
Upon
turning to the right from the "Babussaadet",Gate of
Felicity, the
first building is called "the Buyuk Oda(the Grand
Room)". This building is now used as museum offices. The next room is
called "Seferli Kogusu", the Imperial Wardrobe.
The number of the costumes is over 1300, but the most beautiful ones are on
display in the exhibits.
The
costumes are sorted in chronological order and one should start from the rig
ht
of the hall. Most of the costumes are in "Kaftan" form,
a long robe reaching to the feet level made of silk, satin or embroidered with
gold. They are often fured and in a perfect condition. The dominant color of the
costumes are red, because red was the symbol for prestige, power and authority.
First sultan whose costumes are exhibited is Mehmed II "the Conqueror" of 1460s and the last sultan is Mahmud II of 1860s, which is
quite European, even "Parisienne".
You can also see the Talismanic Shirts that were used for healing purposes by the Sultans with beautiful calligraphy.
Another
interesting type of costumes is the "Shalvars",the bag
gy trousers. These are very loose costumes and one may think that the
Sultan was quite a big man. Even if they were not fat or tall, they prefered
clothes which would make them tall and big. There are also a prince costume
within the collection. The princes, starting from an early age, were treated as
the future sultans, therefore got accustomed to wearing fancy clothes and being
sultans of the future. The clothes are usually made of silk and embroidered with
golden threads.