Beautiful Traditional Clothing Women Wear Across The Globe
Traditional Wear To Inspire Your Wardrobe
From colorful fabrics to elaborate embellishments, traditional clothing from around the world can be stunningly ornate. Some styles have even had a clear influence on the biggest Western fashion trends. Here are 20 examples of beautiful traditional clothing from across the globe.
1. Sari - India
The sari is essentially a long piece of beautiful fabric that wraps around the woman's body and over her shoulder. They're worn on top of a blouse and underskirt and come in countless styles and colors, making them suitable for both everyday wear and special occasions.
2. Hanbok - South Korea
Worn during festivals and holidays, the hanbok is a colorful jacket paired with a full-length high-waisted skirt. It's been worn in South Korea for over 2,000 years.
Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea on Wikimedia
3. Kebaya - Indonesia
The kebaya is an elaborate blouse traditionally worn by women in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and some other Southeast Asian countries. It's made from a light fabric like lace, cotton, or gauze and is sometimes decorated with embroidery.
4. Kimono - Japan
The kinono is the national dress of Japan though it's rarely worn today. It's a garment that wraps at the front and has wide, long sleeves. It's typically worn with a wide sash called an obi.
5. Kaftan - West Africa
The kaftan is a colorful loose-fitting ankle-length pullover dress traditionally worn in West Africa. It originates as far back as ancient Mesopotamia.
6. Armenian Dress - Armenia
The dresses traditionally worn in Armenia embody the region's diverse cultural influences from Turkey, Persia, and the Mediterranean. They're loose-fitting, elaborately embroidered, silk dresses commonly worn with headdresses, heavy jewelry, and shawls.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
7. Croatian Dress - Croatia
The Croatian national costume for women, also worn in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and parts of Hungary, is made up of a white, long-sleeved embroidered blouse, a white floor-length skirt, and an elaborate overskirt. This is only worn on special occasions like national festivals, weddings, and holidays.
8. Dirndl - Germany
The dirndl is typically worn by women in the Alpine regions of Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. It consists of a tight-fitting bodice with a low neckline, blouse, high-waisted skirt, and apron. It's famously worn during the traditional Bavarian festival, Oktoberfest.
9. Ao Dai - Vietnam
The ao dai is traditionally worn in Vietnam. It consists of a form-fitting, silk tunic and loose-fitting pants. It dates back to the 18th-century Vietnamese aristocracy.
10. Sinh - Thailand
This sophisticated and elegant dress is made up of a tucked-in waistband, a simple blouse, and a long, colorful tube skirt. Women in Thailand and Laos wear it on special occasions.
11. Flamenco Dress - Spain
Synonymous with flamenco dancers of Spain, flamenco dresses are characterized by floor-length skirts adorned with ruffles. Local women in Seville wear them during the Feria de Abril festival.
12. Sardinian Traditional Dress - Italy
The strong Moorish and Spanish influence in the region is apparent in this traditional dress worn in the Southern Italian region of Sardinia. It consists of a long, pleated skirt, a veil, a bonnet, and an ornately embroidered blouse.
Elisabeth Baumann on Wikimedia
13. Coiffe - France
A coiffe is a headdress traditionally worn in Brittany, France. The impressive starched lace cylindrical bonnet stands about a foot tall on the woman's head.
14. Herero Dress - Namibia
The Herero women in Namibia wear an adaptation of a Victorian dress with puffy sleeves, a full floor-length skirt, and a fitted bodice, complete with a striking horn-shaped hat. What German colonists wore when they invaded, it's been preserved as a part of the Herero people's cultural identity.
15. Kolt - Finland
The Indigenous peoples of Finland, Northern Russia, Norway, and Sweden are the oldest tribes in Europe. They wear an item called a kolt, a long, heavy skirt always featuring bright yellow, blue, red, and green.
Kirkens Informasjonstjeneste on Wikimedia
16. Kira - Bhutan
A kira is a colorful ankle-length dress adorned with a scarf typically worn in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Government officials are mandated to wear them at all times.
17. Sarafan - Russia
The sarafan is a traditional Russian dress consisting of a floor-length flowing skirt and straight lines. Originating in the 14th century, it was inspired by Viking clothing.
Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii on Wikimedia
18. Cheongsam - China
A cheongsam is a form-fitting, high-necked dress traditionally worn in China. A symbol of elegance in Chinese culture, it's usually embroidered and made from silk.
19. Bunad - Norway
A traditional Norwegian dress, bunads differ from region to region but mostly consist of a tight-fitting bodice on top of a long-sleeved blouse with wide sleeves. They're worn at important holidays, weddings, and ceremonies.
Heidi Fossnes/Magasinet BUNAD on Wikimedia
20. Abaya - Middle East
Worn by women in the Middle East, the abaya is a long, flowing black dress paired with a headscarf. Although they're traditionally very simple and modest, modern designs sometimes feature embroidery and other more contemporary adornments.
