Photo of a girl in the uniform of the Kuban Cossack army RIA

The original photograph from the period of the First World War is in very good condition. The postcard format. Guarantee of authenticity

During the First World War, the girls and wives of soldiers going to the front often tried on their military uniforms — overcoats, caps, uniforms — and went to a photo studio. This unusual tradition originated in Germany and Great Britain, and then quickly spread throughout Europe and the Russian Empire. Dressing up in a man's uniform in the photo was no ordinary entertainment. There were deep personal and social reasons behind this.:

• Creating a "living" souvenir. Soldiers went to war, which could drag on for years or become deadly. Women were photographed in their loved ones' belongings in order to leave a tangible memory for themselves. Most often, they sent these cards to the front to show the men their loyalty and how much they miss them.


• A symbol of support and patriotism. By wearing her husband's or brother's uniform, a woman demonstrated that she shared his duty to the motherland. It was a sign of emotional unity with the front.


• The illusion of presence. In some of the paired photos, the lovers exchanged items of clothing. Sometimes a woman posed in uniform alone, hugging a pillow or chair, as if replacing a man who had gone to war.

Photographs in male form have become an important transitional step. They helped society get used to the image of a woman in strict "men's" clothes and changed world fashion forever.