National Costumes of the World

National costumes of the world serve many purposes: they preserve a country’s cultural heritage, educate the public about their history, unite citizens with a sense of national unity, and express patriotism. Understanding what makes up a national costume and how to recreate one can spread those purposes to the far corners of the globe.

Fancy Costumes

How National Costumes are Created

Many fashion influences affect national costumes, and in fact, many nations have several variations of authentic costumes that each accurately reflect the nation’s culture. Different factors that can be incorporated into a national costume include:

• Climate and geography
• Marital status or social class
• Profession
• National colors or other symbols
• Different time periods

When choosing a national costume, most countries opt for highly distinctive designs that can be applied to the majority of the population and will represent the nation’s values and heritage.

Examples of National Costumes of the World

All nations have national fashion that could be considered a representative costume, but some nations actually designate official cultural attire. Examples of distinctive national costumes include (click the country name to be taken to relevant photos):

• Scotland: The knee length pleated kilt is characteristic of Scottish costumes, and is often made of tartan–one clan’s specialized fabric–for even more symbolism. A furry pouch worn around the waist called a sporran and knee socks are other classic parts of the Scottish costume.
• Russia: Russian national costumes may be heavily embroidered peasant clothes or the calf-length red wool coat, black boots, and cylindrical dark wool Cossack hat of the Imperial Guard.

Girls in Japanese kimonos.

• Japan: The official costume of Japan is the kimono–a long, heavily patterned silk robe featuring colorful scenes and tied with a wide length of silk fabric called an obi. Sandals, stylized makeup, and an elaborate hairstyle complete the cultural fashion.
• Bolivia: Elaborate masks and feather headdresses reflect the pre-Columbian influences in Bolivia’s national costume.
• Jamaica: The Caribbean tropics come to life through Jamaica’s national costume with long, flowing, vibrant skirts in stunning colors. Accents include tropical flowers and fruits that are well known in the tiny island nation.
• Sweden: Sweden’s national costume is one of the most distinctive, with its white winged hat, white long-sleeved blouse, long skirt with apron, and embroidered vest. Classic craft influences are obvious in this coordinated look.
• Africa: African national costumes are different than most other countries’ attire in that they reflect the culture of various native tribes rather than national boundaries. African costumes typically include kente woven cloth in bright, bold colors and geometric patterns that reflect different tribes’ customs.
• United States: The U.S. does not have a national costume, but if it adopted one, what might it include? Elaborate hoop skirts may be suitable for Southern states, while Inuit and Eskimo clothes are perfect for Alaska. Hula skirts are appropriate for Hawaii, while chaps and cowboy hats might be found in Texas. The key is that national costumes always reflect the culture, heritage, and individuality of the nations they represent.

Uses for National Costumes

National costumes of the world are frequently used for elementary school country reports and presentations, but there are many other uses for these cultural fashions, such as:

• Ethnic or cultural festivals
• National holiday celebrations
• Weddings or other special occasions
• Touring dance troupes
• Beauty pageants
• Cultural dolls

Researching National Costumes of the World

For many countries, it may be difficult to discover the exact national costume. First, investigate official government and cultural resources, but if there are no guidelines, it is possible to put together a unique national costume by studying the history and culture of a nation. A national costume will reflect well known parts of the country’s identity in clear ways that can be recognized even by individuals who may not be familiar with the intimate details of the costume. Cultural preservation groups, reenactment societies, and museums are great sources of inspiration for individual national costumes.

National costumes of the world are a strong piece of nations’ identities that reflect individual cultures and forge an appreciation for what makes each nation unique. Whether it is for a Halloween costume, an ethnic festival, a school report, or just to honor your cultural roots, a national costume is a great way to express a connection to a specific nation.

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