The Middle East is a kaleidoscopic and colorful universe for Arabic clothing for both, men and women.
It has been, for millennia, and remains a complex reality where local traditions and Western culture mix.
If white robes and black veils are the only things that pop in your mind when you think about Middle Eastern clothes, then you should read on.
While the latter has deeply influenced Arab countries, it is still possible to spot some traditional garments.
In this article, I'll deal with some of the most common misconceptions about Arabs and clothing.
Then, I'll detail the traditional garments worn in different countries, starting from Morocco to Oman.
I'll also help you understand how the concept of 'modest dress' changes a lot, from one country to another, within the region.
Arabic Clothing Factors: Age, Social Class, Location
Age and location make a big difference when it comes to clothing in the Middle East.
On the one hand, younger people tend to wear Western clothes and use their traditional outfits only for special occasions such as weddings, religious celebrations, or pilgrims.
At the same time, the older generations are far more often seen wearing traditional Arabic garments.
On the other hand, people living in cities are more attentive to the latest fashion trends and popular brands.
In smaller towns and rural contexts, men and women still prefer traditional attires because of their comfort and the protection they offer from the sun, the wind, and the sand.
A third key factor is the wearer's social class.
While designer clothes from the West are trendy among the middle and upper class, classic garments and conservative attires are still easily found in traditional neighborhoods.
While this could be true for specific countries in the Levant and North Africa, the criteria change for Gulf countries where all women and men wear similar clothes.
In fact, in Gulf countries, the quality and design of the 'abaya' reveal one's social class and status.
Arabic Clothing Stereotypes
Before detailing which clothes belong to which country, I must clarify some general misconceptions related to Middle Eastern clothing, as well as introducing the basic terms of Arabic clothing fashion.
1) All Arab women wear hijab.
NO. This statement is wrong for two main reasons:
a. some Muslim women decide to wear a hijab, and some let their hair uncovered
b. some Arab women are Christian or Jewish and thus might not follow the same clothing rules
2) The hijab is a headscarf.
YES. The term hijab is a word used to describe the headscarf worn by many Muslim women.
Moreover, the word hijab refers to the short veil wrapped around a woman's head.
Hijab is also a general term describing modest attires that include a head covering.
3) There is only one kind of veil.
NO. The term veil includes an impressive variety of headgears that come in many shapes, lengths, and fabrics.
There are different kinds of veils, and women wear them as a religious or cultural sign of belonging to a particular society and consider them an important fashion statement.
Hijabs have different styles and colors, and women wearing a hijab (muhajjabat in Arabic) are always up to date with the latest trends, just as Western women know whether an item is out-dated or not.
A precise instance of how hijab fashion changes and evolves is the so-called "Gamboo'a", which can be literally translated as "Camel hump".
It was fashionable around 2008 when women sported voluminous hijabs using a clip with a giant plastic flower (the gamboo'a) under the headscarf.
It soon became trendy, especially in the trendsetter country of the region, the UAE.
However, by 2011 it was already considered out of fashion.
Here are the four main types of hijabs:
1. SHAYLA: a one-piece veil, derived from a long scarf wrapped around the head and pinned under the chin, as it gently rests on the shoulders.
It is usually worn on top of a matching color cap, which helps keep the hijab in place. The rim of the cap may or may not be shown according to the woman's preference.
It is the most common kind of hijab, particularly in the Gulf countries (except for Saudi Arabia).
2. AL-AMIRA: a two-piece veil.
It is straightforward to wear, and it is comprised of a head cap and a tubular scarf worn on top of it.
The main difference between Shayla and Al-Amira is the shape of the scarf (rectangular for the Shayla, tubular for the al-amira) and the head cap (hidden or only slightly visible in the former, while a significant portion is left exposed in the latter).
It can be seen in the Middle East, even though it is prevalent in the southeast Asian Muslim community.
3. NIQAB: a face veil that is usually worn with a headscarf and tied behind the head.
It leaves a gap for the eyes only, even though some women add an eye veil that allows them to see without revealing their eyes.
It is not unusual to see a niqab in North Africa or the Levant, but it is most commonly used in Saudi Arabia.
4. KHIMAR: a long veil that covers the head and the chest till the waist. The face is left uncovered.
It is not as popular as the previous head covering types; still, some women wear it in their daily lives.
4) Most Arab women wear a burqa.
NOT entirely, and you'll see why.
Burqa is an Arabic clothing item characteristic of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Taliban regime imposed burqa, and it is not paramount in the Arab world, even though some countries such as Yemen have their version of the burqa (or burghaa), which differs from the Afghan one.
It is not to be confused with the niqab, more commonly used in the Middle East.
The differences:
- The niqab is usually black and merely a face veil.
- Burqa is mostly light blue and covers the whole body.
- Usually, the niqab leaves the eyes uncovered, while the burqa has a net over them.
5) All Arab men wear a long, white robe and a colored headscarf.
NO. Only men in the Gulf wear a headscarf and white robe daily.The headscarf (ghuthrain the Gulf, keffiah in the Levant) is tied on the head with a black piece of cord (aghal).
It is used with a skullcap called thagiyah, which keeps the hair in place.
The white robe, called thoub/thobe, dishdasha, or kandora, is the main item of clothing for Gulf men and is generally worn with a pair of loose-fitting trousers called sirwal, either long or short.
While the keffiah is also used in Palestine and Jordan, the dishdasha remains the Gulf men's fashion landmark.
Changes In Arabic Clothing Perception
One of the most interesting surveys about Arabic clothing ever conducted in the region was conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.
The study shows how people's perception of decency and modest clothing changes from one country to another within the Middle East.
Most of the time, we see these opinions are reflected in the way Arabs dress.
For example, it is indeed true that many women in Lebanon do not cover their hair.
On the contrary, the majority of women in Saudi Arabia wear a niqab.
It looks interesting. Although .. some of the outfits are too revealing. This is not welcome in the workplace. There are women who pursue themselves as business owners or managers. The dress code is important to them. I think you might find it helpful to view the blog by Meri Puspita at the avanda.id. They offered more modest options that look great in a business atmosphere.
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