The typical costumes of all the countries of the world are related to the climate, culture and geography of the country they represent. All of them have historical significance and, in most cases, they are used on festivities or special occasions. Here we show you how they dress on the five continents.

Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.

Latin America

Within the American continent, the main variations between the countries of South and Central America have to do with climate and customs. For this reason, in typical men's clothing, fine fabric shirts tend to predominate, as well as a hat to protect themselves from the sun.



Costumes Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala they are made with colorful fabrics, embroidered or with flowery patterns, or even shiny fabrics. The skirt or petticoat is usually flared and the top is low-cut. The flowered suit is the typical colonial dress and is used in dances such as the Warsaw or the Cuadrillas.

En South America highlights the typical costumes of Argentina, such as the gaucho, paisana or the dress to dance tango, the dance par excellence of the Argentine Republic. It should be noted that the peasant dress is the feminine version of the gaucho dress and includes a semi-flat skirt without a petticoat.

Within Peru, the clothing goes hand in hand with the different races that inhabit the country. Thus, in the departments of Arequipa, Cusco, Cajamarca, Ayacucho and Puno, among other areas of the mountains, clothing is designed to protect against the cold.

In Colombia you can find the Jaime Duque Park, an amusement park dedicated to family recreation. Divided into several sections, one of them is dedicated to the different typical costumes of the planet, including those of the UN countries. It also contains a collection of Barbies and more than 1.000 dolls dressed in regional costumes from the world.

As to typical Brazilian outfit, we can say that it is, without a doubt, the one used to dance samba. Also those that can be seen in the famous Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, as well as those of the June festivals. The latter are striking for their embroidery and bright colors.

North America

In North America, the most important are regional costumes of Mexico. For example in Nayarit The tradition of the Coras and Huichol Indians predominates, with their creative culture and varied artisan skills. Hence the fame of its wool garments and multicolored symmetrical designs. Weaving women are known as huicholes also.

The climate of the state of Tabasco has determined the clothing of Tabasco women. There, the flowered suit stands out, with its light fabrics, neutral tones and elaborate embroidery designs. The complete costume consists of a wide skirt or chintz and a white blouse embroidered with flowers in the regional colors of Tabasco (blue, green, yellow and red).

El jean suit is probably the first that comes to mind when you think of typical United States clothing. The outfit of cowboy It has its origin in the Far or Wild West, specifically in the famous explorer Buffalo Bill. The suit highlights the typical cowboy boots or the famous bandana around the neck.

Finally, of Canada we highlight above all the native clothing of the different indigenous groups residing in the country. On the other hand, the Royal Mounted Police uniform and the ice hockey wardrobe, a sport in which Canada has the highest number of gold medals, are very representative of the country.

European countries

From the European continent the regional costumes of Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Russia and Holland, among others. Although each nation has a typical clothing, they have in common the custom of adorning fabrics with floral embroidery, striped prints or any other motif.

Spanish costumes vary by region. Highlights the suit flamenco, used to dance this famous dance, as well as that of fallera, typical of the famous Fallas in Valencia. In the Basque Country, for example, it can be seen that the costumes of both men and women are related to the pastoral and farmhouse life of the region.

The clothing of France has been constituted from the different events that occurred in its history. The women's dress is characterized by being usually earthy colors, long and adorned with floral motifs. A short-sleeved jacket and elegant shoes in shades similar to those of the suit are also common.

If we move to Italy, we can say that the traditional costume of the country dates back to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance period, hence the Venice carnival costumes are designed to represent this historical period. Typical clothing for women includes a pleated skirt and a cotton shirt. In Sardinia, for example, the typical costume is called Sardinian.

Great part of Russian culture It is reflected in the typical attire for men, of which the t-shirt stands out, which is called kosovorotka, which literally means neckband crossed. Its origin dates back to the XNUMXth century, when men had to wear a cross on their bodies. Hence, it is buttoned on one side: in this way, the cross did not fall while they worked.

Africa

The large number of African indigenous communities, added to the long history and the varied customs that spread throughout each country, makes the list of typical African costumes practically endless.

First of all, the clothing of Egypt is probably best known for its oriental influence and the legacy that the pharaohs of the Ancient Egypt They left. Thus, typical men's clothing is characterized by including a tunic with an opening in the upper front part and reaching the feet. The color can be from dark to neutral white.



The traditional female costume used to combine almost transparent cotton and linen fabrics, and also reached down to the feet. The use of wigs and multiple cosmetics, especially makeup, was also common in both men and women. Currently, Egyptians dress very Western, although the use of a kind of smock called chilava.

La tunica It is not only identified with the Egyptian world, but it is also used by the inhabitants of most African countries, as is the case of Nigeria. The design of this garment usually responds to a common pattern and is adorned with different embroidery. The suit as a whole is wide, a feature that helps to withstand high temperatures.

From among the different indigenous tribes of AfricaThe costumes of those who live in Kenya are striking, where both men and women are dominated by bright colors related to the nature that surrounds them. It should be noted that men also wear a skirt to the knees and usually decorate their head with ribbons or scarves.

Arab world

Muslim countries are divided between Africa and Asia, although the main ones are located on the African continent, among them Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, Chad, Mali and Mauritania. In the Arabian peninsula, we highlight countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, among many others.

The Koran, the holy book of Islam, dictates a series of rules that must be respected when dressing, such as wearing narrow clothes so that the shapes of the body are not evident, not wearing transparent fabric, avoiding bright or phosphorescent colors, etc.

Men's clothing, meanwhile, should cover the entire body from the navel to the knee and should not use silk or gold. Men's clothing must be modest, dignified and loose, not tight to the body. In many Muslim countries, men wear a robe on a daily basis. Other basic garments are:

  • Keffiyeh: it is the garment that covers the heads of men and is a sign of pride for the Arab identity.
  • Thawb, thobe or suriyah: is the name given to robes in Libya. They are characterized by being long, up to the ankles. In summer they are white, while in winter they are dark and woolen.

As for women, the best known garment is the hijab, Meaning veil in Arabic, identified in the West with the name of islamic scarf. The hijab covers the head and neck of women, and is a feminine symbol in Islamic culture, closely related to religion.

There are other types of veil, such as the niqab, which covers the entire face and only reveals the eyes. It is used by the most conservative women, like the burqa. The latter covers the entire body and only reveals a small grid to allow vision.

Oceania

In the case of Oceania, its numerous archipelagos and islands make it difficult to define a typical costume and even identify common features. In any case, the climate and geography of each country have been the two most influential factors historically when it comes to establishing the costumes for each region.

The typical clothing of Australia it is known as larriki and is related to the people called larrikins, a group characterized by its contempt for the Australian authorities. Her clothing consists of dark-colored pants, shirt with a long-sleeved jacket with an open collar. You can not miss a black hat.

It is also worth mentioning the typical costumes of the towns Aborigines australians. Although these human groups are a minority today, they have managed to keep their culture and ancestral customs alive. His typical costume is characterized, more than by the garments that compose it, by the paintings of mythological beings with which they cover their body.

Scrolling to TongaThe costumes of their traditional dances, such as the Lakalaka, Ma'ulu'ulu, Kailao, Soke, Me'etu'upaki or 'Otuhaka, also attract attention. Facing tourists, Tongan women cover their bodies with a kind of smeared fat when dancing, so that the tip bills stick to them.

Asian traditional clothing

Chinese traditional costumes and those of Japan They are the ones that most attract the attention of the Asian continent. In the case of China, the hanfu and the qipao are the two most recognized garments:

  • Hanfu: It was the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, with more than 3.000 years old. It has influenced the traditional clothing of other Asian countries such as Japan or Vietnam.
  • Qipao or cheongsam: It is a feminine dress that was traditionally made with silk. It is a comfortable and elegant garment with a simple cut to allow the performance of movements with ease.

The quintessential Japanese dress is the kimono, used by women in their daily lives until the early post-war years. Today, the kimono is still the quintessential costume for Japanese women, although it is no longer used in everyday life, but only at weddings, ceremonies or festivals.

In the case of the India, traditional women's clothing is called sari and consists of a rectangular cloth that measures between 5 and 8 meters long by 1,2 m wide. The sari is rolled to the body and is tied in a special way to make it look like a dress. In addition, it is accompanied by a blouse or inner shirt.

As for the costume of the Hindu man, his costume is called dhoti and it is original from Bengal and the various communities of the Ganges valley. It is a white or beige piece, also rectangular, made of cotton, which is rolled up at the waist and passes through both legs. It is the garment that Ghandi used on a daily basis.

This article has been shared 60 times. We have spent many hours collecting this information. If you liked it, share it, please: