Folk costumes on the three major islands - Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhu - changed differently from the ones of the rest of Estonia. Pleated skirts (pleated by using hot loaves of bread) were common to women's costumes. In the first half of the 19th century former unicoloured skirts became horizontally striped in Saaremaa and Muhu. Later on, vertically striped skirts came into fashion. Maidens wore aprons on the islands as well but it was mostly done on festive occasions. In Hiiumaa, women wore shirt blouses - midruffs. In Saaremaa, long-sleeved shirts and bodices were worn. Up to the 19th century, midruffs were also worn in Muhu, but after that period they were worn only as a part of brides' and young wives' costumes. Overcoats and men's suits were sheep-brown or -black, in Sõrve also grey. The indigo-blue colour was not common on the islands.
Women`s headdresses were also special - veils fixed under the chin, coifs supported by a piece of cardboard or a twig, winter caps, in Saaremaa also knitted caps with tassels at the back. Shoes differed as well. In the 19th century in addition to shoes carpet-slippers with tarred soles were worn. In Muhu people also wore soft heelless leather shoes.