Costume Around the World
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National Dress
Traditional clothing from one region
of a country might be adopted as a
“national dress,” a costume for anyone
to wear to express loyalty to the
nation. National dress fell out of use
in most European countries in the
twentieth century, being worn only in
historical reenactments, or as
entertainment for tourists.
Japanese Kimono
The kimono is a formal Japanese robe,
worn by men and women. Its wide
sleeves and flowing folds have been
part of Japanese courtly life for twelve
hundred years, following a Chinese
design which is itself over two
thousand years old. During the
twentieth century, Japanese people
wore kimonos for special events such as
weddings or the Children’s Day festival.
There are at least seven different styles
of kimono, expressing different
degrees of formality. Putting them on
correctly was such a complex process
that licensed kimono dressers could
be hired to help women prepare for
the most formal events.
Revolutionary
Clothing
The People’s Republic of China was
founded in 1949, under the leadership
of Chairman Mao. In this new
communist state, people adopted a
kind of uniform that expressed their
social equality. Made of dark, heavy-
duty cotton, the practical “Mao suit,”
or zhifu, could withstand the rigors of
hard labor. Both jacket and trousers
were comfortable and loose-fitting,
and the military jacket had four
Famous Hats
Many local cultures are associated with a particular type
of headgear. North African countries such as Morocco
and Egypt are home to the fez, a small, red felt cylinder
with a black tassel, worn high on the head. Wide-
brimmed hats to shield farmers working in the hot sun
include the Mexican sombrero and the “coolie” hats
worn by rice farmers in Southeast Asia.
roomy pockets and a turn-down
collar.The Mao suit was worn by
everyone, male or female, from
government officials to farm laborers.
Mao’s regime banned the cheongsam,
or quipao, a figure-hugging,
beautifully decorated dress, f
astened
with a line of cloth-covered buttons
running from the neck diagonally
across the front of the right shoulder.
Although it had roots in the
seventeenth century, its shape evolved
throughout the twentieth century,
acquiring shorter sleeves and a more
fitted line. After fifty years “in exile,”
the cheongsam became popular again
at the end of the century, especially as
a cocktail dress.
Traditionally made in stiff
silk, kimonos usually
feature a striking repeat
pattern. This kimono was
designed in 1973.
Comfortable and hard-
wearing, the Mao suit was
a practical style of dress
for workers of all kinds in
communist China.