Unlike Sweden, Denmark does not have a national folk costume, even though older Danish literature misleadingly refers to its regional costumes as "nationaldragter" (national costumes). Danish folk costumes (circa 1750-1870) were instead regional and were worn by ordinary people, not the wealthy merchants and professionals of larger cities. Those elites certainly wore elegant clothing, but it was not particularly Danish, coming as it did from Paris and London.

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In 1783, King Christian VII of Denmark grew concerned both with the importation of foreign fabrics and with people trying to dress above their position on the social ladder. Thus, laws were passed restricting peasants to home-woven and home-knitted fabrics. However, over time this law was ignored. For those with means, the finest glazed worsted wool fabrics from Norwich, UK, and silks from France could still be obtained, albeit illegally. The subsequent Danish Golden Age (1800-1850) saw the blossoming of Danish arts and literature while much wealth was accrued.

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By the mid-1800s, the home-woven and home-knitted regional Danish costumes ebbed away, and people switched to clothing made of purchased fabric. In the wake of Denmark's defeat in the Second Schleswig War of 1864, a sense of nationalism arose in Denmark. Danes began to take an interest in elements of their culture that were particularly Danish, such as folk costumes, dances, stories and food. Danish folk costumes were celebrated for their distinctive "Danishness," as well as their regional quirks that set them apart, even from Swedish and Norwegian folk clothing. In contrast, the clothing of the elites was viewed as having been influenced too much by foreign countries. 

 

A few prescient individuals chronicled the vanishing Danish folk costumes as best they could​. Danish museums added folk costumes to their collections. However, it was too little, too late and many Danish folk costumes were tragically lost to the sands of time. Some have speculated that one reason for this loss is that unlike virtually every other country in the world, Denmark does not have a national day on which folk costumes might have been worn.

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Remarkably, one Danish folk costume persisted in regular use into the 1960s, while others have survived through sporadic use in festivals and ceremonies. Arguably, it is not too late for Denmark and the world to rekindle a broader interest in the Danish folk costumes that have been preserved.​