Svita

(also svitka), an article of outer national clothing worn by males and females in the Ukraine, Russia, and Byelorussia. Originally having a straight cut, svity were fitted at the waist from the second half of the 19th century. Their usual length was below the knees, and they came single- or double-breasted, buttoning on the left side. They were sometimes worn thrown over the shoulders. Svity were usually made from homespun cloth the natural color of sheep’s wool, although they were sometimes made from red cloth, for example, the Ukrainian holiday svity. Svity were often embroidered and trimmed with braid or leather.