National clothes of men in the UAE. Traditional clothing of the inhabitants of the UAE

The Gulf States or Arab States of the Persian Gulf are names referring to countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. These states are members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). The Union was founded in 1981 as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Yemen is another state located on the Arabian Peninsula. This state is not a member of the union, but the possibility of its accession is currently being discussed.

All the countries of the Persian Gulf share a common regional culture, which is also referred to as the "culture of the Persian Gulf". The rich culture of the Arabian Peninsula has evolved over the centuries. Many customs and traditions were inherited from the Bedouin culture that prevailed in the Arabian Peninsula. A common religion, language, similar styles of music and worldview determined the path of development of Arab culture. Arab traditions are also reflected in the national dress of the Persian Gulf states. It combines three incompatible features: modesty, practicality and sophistication.

Traditional Arab clothing tends to be long and covers almost all parts of the body. This is due to the cultural and climatic features of the region. The human body requires protection from the scorching sun. In general, traditional clothing is quite similar throughout the entire Persian Gulf. Men's clothing such as the long dress (kandura), keffiyeh, gutra and women's clothing such as the abaya and hijab are typical of most Arab countries.

However, there are differences in every single part of the region. Because of this, each state has its own code of dress code. At present, in view of modern realities, the traditions in the clothing of the countries of the Persian Gulf are undergoing some changes. All these factors turn the Arab culture into a unique combination of centuries-old traditions and modern innovations.

In this review, we would like to dwell in more detail on the features of the national dress of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

United Arab Emirates

Both men and women wear long dresses, which are called, respectively, kandura and abaya.

Kandura (also dishdasha) is a men's toe-length dress. It usually has long sleeves. Abaya is a loose, robe-like dress with long sleeves and floor length. It covers the entire body except for the face, legs and arms. Today, for reasons of convenience, fitted abayas are becoming more and more popular. Sometimes the collar and sleeves are decorated with bright embroidery.

Keffiyeh is a cotton scarf that protects from the hot sun. Usually, this men's headdress is white, but this is not a requirement in other countries. Ikal is a black cord that prevents kuffiye from slipping off the head. Children wear both red and white keffis without the ikal.

Hijab is a women's headscarf that covers the neck and part of the head. The niqab is another type of headscarf that is worn to cover the mouth and nose, leaving only the eyes visible.

Nowadays, some clothing items used in Western culture are becoming more and more popular among the youth. However, the residents of the Emirates respect their traditions, and the same is expected from visitors and expats. Therefore, you should take care of your appearance so as not to violate the established rules of decency.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is known for its strict clothing laws. The local way of life, influenced by religion and customs, suggests uniformity of clothing. All citizens must wear formal attire.

In Saudi Arabia, unlike the UAE, the kanduru, or the so-called "Wahhabi national dress", is worn by both men and women. Women also wear sirwal (cotton or silk trousers) under the kandura, due to excessively hot weather conditions. Sometimes, on special occasions, men wear long cloaks over the kandura, which are called bisht or mishlah. They are mostly white, brown or black in color and are usually framed with gold fabric. Abaya is a piece of women's clothing that must be worn in public places. It covers the entire body except for the face. Wearing an abaya in Saudi Arabia is also mandatory for foreign women.

The male headdress consists of a skullcap, gutra and ikal. A skullcap is a small headdress, usually white, worn over a gutra, a cotton scarf wrapped around the head. Ikal is a double black cord fastened around the gutra. Sometimes pious people do not wear the ikal.

All women, with the exception of foreigners, must wear a boshi and niqab covering the face. The boshiya is a black veil that covers the lower part of the face, while the niqab is a veil that covers the entire face.

Bahrain

The traditional dress of Bahrain is very similar to that of Saudi Arabia, due to the common history and geographical location.

The kandura is the traditional men's dress, while the women wear the abaya. Consequently, the kandura, unlike in Saudi Arabia, is worn only by men. The male population of Bahrain, as well as in Saudi Arabia, wears a bisht over a kandura on special occasions. Women usually wear abayas along with a hijab, a black veil that covers the face.

The traditional headdress of men consists of gutra, keffiyeh and ikal. Gutra is a red and white checkered scarf worn over a keffiyeh, a white knitted hat. And the ikal, a thick black cord, serves to hold the gutra in place.

Qatar

Qatari clothing has undergone dramatic changes over the past few decades. However, it has retained its traditional character.

Today, the male population of Qatar does not wear kandoors or bishts. The usual men's costume consists of a long-sleeved shirt, loose trousers, and a gutra, which is attached with an ikal.

Women's clothing remains more traditional. The women of Qatar always wear abayas and cover their hair with a shawl. Sometimes women also wear a burqa, completely covering their faces. However, this is not mandatory.

The official style in Qatar differs from the traditional one, as men may not wear any head coverings, while women may wear long dresses with sleeves no longer than the elbows and a modest neckline.

There are no strict rules for foreigners, but you should still wear modest classic clothes.

Kuwait

Kuwait is known for its rich culture and centuries of history. The national clothes of Kuwait have their own characteristics.

Dishdasha is a men's robe with long sleeves and floor length. Unlike the Kandura, it fastens with buttons from the neck to the waist and has long side pockets. Men usually wear light cotton trousers with dishdash.

The Kuwaiti traditional headdress is almost the same as that generally accepted throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Gafya is a tight-fitting headdress worn over the gutra. White gutras are usually worn in summer, and red and white checkered gutras in winter. Ikal is a double black cord that holds the gutra on the head.

On the occasion of official events, men usually wear a bisht trimmed with gold thread over the dishdashi. It is made from thin cotton (for summer) or wool (for winter).

The traditional Kuwaiti dress covers the entire body and is called daraa'. Usually women do not wear the kandura in Kuwait, however it may be worn on ceremonial occasions. Abaya is a common outerwear for daily use. Sometimes it is worn over the daraa'.

In terms of headwear, today, Kuwaiti hijabs are offered in many styles and rich colors. Sometimes women wear a veil and boshiya to cover their entire face. The burqa (short black veil) leaves the eyes and forehead open, while the boshiya (translucent veil) covers the entire face.

Yemen

Nowadays, due to the influence of Western culture, the male population of Yemen often wears suits, shirts and T-shirts. However, traditional Yemeni outfits are still popular.

Loose kandours, which are toe-length, are considered fairly formal wear in Yemen. The kandura is commonly used in northern Yemen.

The national men's dress of Yemen is called futa. These are informal style clothes that are great for everyday wear. Mawaz is a traditional dress used in formal events. There is no set color or cut type for it, and it is very popular due to its convenience.

The most popular men's hats are the turban and the alcaveque. A turban is a long piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head. The Alkavec can be worn over or without the turban.

The traditional women's costume is called sanaani. This wide dress, sewn from a single linen, is usually worn with "al-momk" - a piece of cloth that covers the head. Zina is another traditional knee-length dress with long sleeves and a sharp neckline.

Yemeni women usually cover their heads with various head coverings such as headscarves, hijabs, veils, etc.

Only if you have time!

National clothes are worn with pleasure by the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. It is practical, original, diverse, sometimes simply luxurious, most adapted to the local climate, is an attempt to preserve its traditions and is a vivid example of counteracting the cosmopolitan depersonalization brought here by total globalization, which has devastatingly won here in all other industries and spheres of life! In addition, clothing corresponds, of course, to the requirements of religion. Initially, Arab clothing was supposed to serve as protection from the sun, sand, and then these practical functions coincided with the tradition of Islam and became a symbol of the lifestyle of a religious person. Traditional clothing hides the body almost completely, leaving only the face, hands and feet open.

Most of the men wear traditional clothing, which is a long shirt, called dishdasha in the UAE, and most often jalabiya (they only call it that in stores, by the way). In its purest form, this is a tunic with long sleeves, without seams, fasteners and a collar, reaching to the ankles. However, it has a tapered shape and emphasizes the figure. Most often it is white, but blue, lavender, "fallen leaves", black and brown jalabia are also increasingly common. In the Emirates, they prefer a long white dishdash with cuffs (often with cufflinks), a breast pocket and a stand-up collar (these details are the result of the influence of European fashion). The traditional cut of the galabea: without cuffs, pocket and collar. Regardless of the style, one thing will remain unchanged - it is always shining with whiteness and cleanliness, ironed, without a single wrinkle, pleasantly smelling even at a long distance, a shirt that testifies to the desire for extraordinary cleanliness and creates the impression of freshness and well-groomed. And just clean, as they say in advertising. Arabs change clothes twice a day. Speaking of "Arabs" I mean exclusively local, about Palestinian, Lebanese, Moroccan and other Mauritanian, I have no information! (I immediately and strictly warn attacks about dirty and so on, just kidding, but seriously!)

In 1914, the English intelligence officer Thomas Edward Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, (in the picture, of course, Peter O * Tool in this role, I can’t resist posting here, too good!) noted that the Arabs living in Hijaz, they sometimes use their headscarves as pillows and bags. And the Bedouin, going into battle, almost completely covered his face with a handkerchief, tying its ends at the top and leaving only his eyes open in order to be unrecognizable.

In our time, this world-famous Arab headdress - a scarf girded with a tourniquet - has actually been preserved in its original form. This is due to its exceptional practicality in relation to the conditions of Arabia. The head and neck are protected from the burning sun, and the folds of the scarf absorb hot air and thus insulate, allowing you to retain moisture and endure heat. This handkerchief, called "gutra", is a large enough piece of cloth that allows you to freely wrap it around your face or wrap it in a turban, once very popular in Arabia. A square piece of gutra is usually folded diagonally to form a triangle, the equal sides of which fall over the shoulders. He is usually white. In winter, it can be made of a denser material with the addition of wool and with a red ornament. The yigal holding it on its head, which looks like a thick cord, according to legend, goes back to the rope with which the Bedouin tied camels at night, and during the day, having rolled it, kept it on his head. Residents of the UAE often have two thin black cords hanging from the needle - for greater beauty. You can cover the lower part of the face with the ends of the gutra, escaping from sand or cold, or you can throw them up or plug them under the needle, constructing something like a turban so that they do not interfere. A lace skullcap is worn under the gutra. Their original purpose was to prevent the handkerchief from getting dirty. In the past, skullcaps were made of cotton and were easy to wash. Sometimes they were decorated with very fancy embroideries in white silk and gold thread.

Looking closer, you can see a “tie” among urban residents - a lace, which can be of various shapes, and is called a tarbusha. So this tarboosha has not only an aesthetic function, but also a purely practical one, it is she who gets a huge portion of perfumes, since the jalabiya fabric will retain stains from aromatization until the washing itself, and if we take into account the oil component of Arabic aromas, then for a long time after washing too. Considering the manic desire of the Arabs for the purity of their clothes and the same manic love for pleasant aromas, such a tie is simply a measure of extreme necessity.

The national "fashion" inside the Arab fashion also, of course, exists and reflects the attempts of the entire Arab world to preserve its traditions, and the ways of the formation of individual national communities - Syrian, Egyptian, Arabian, Libyan, etc. - in the bosom of pan-Arab culture.

(beautiful picture from francessa)

The traditional dress in which a woman is shown in public is a black long dress - abaya. Among women of the coast, abayas are made of light fabric (silk, satin), among Bedouins, the fabric is denser and coarser. Under the abaya there may be traditional Arab clothing, for example, a traditional colored dress (gandura), embroidered (made of gold and silver threads or talli - made of colored and silver threads), and most often expensive models from Paris or Milan. The head of a woman outside the home is covered with a black kerchief or scarf (sheila), and her face may be hidden under a thin black gauze-veil (guishua), which allows you to see you, but does not allow you to see what is under it. Another option is possible, when the lower part of the face is covered with a handkerchief, leaving only the eyes in the wild.
Arab women in European clothes with their heads uncovered most likely came to Dubai from another Arab country. And the widespread opinion about the imposition of this attire on them and the dream of the "enslaved" to throw it off and dress in a European way (which, by the way, they often do in Europe) is nothing more than a fiction or a myth. Arab women love and enjoy wearing their robes, allowing them to personally take part in its design and show all the fantasy and ideas about beauty, as well as combine with designer bags and shoes.

Arab clothing stores are presented in each mall.
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The napkins on the coffee table are disturbing. Are tears bitter to wipe? Husbands, of course!
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At the entrance - a hospitable gesture, which can also mean - bargaining is appropriate, tea parties are very conducive to this.
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Endless choice...
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You can always agree. Would have a calculator handy.
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Mannequins do not suit abayas at all. They don't know how to wear them and they just look awkward.
I have not yet seen a translucent lace abaya as outerwear on any Arab women, at least.
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Huge rhinestones.
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A very expensive model. 18,000 dirhs ($5,000)
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Butterflies.
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Chiffon is also used.
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Lace trim.
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I asked the store which is the most expensive. They pointed to this, the cost of 33,000 dirhs (almost $ 10,000). They explain the demand for Versachev's design and the number of Swarovski straziks.
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Blue on black is always a win!
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White atypical.
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Purple is also untypical, but beautiful.
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Just wealth and luxury! Gold - in one word!
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Hand embroidery.
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And how do you like such luxurious dresses for weddings and other celebrations!
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Here, all the beauty is offered at the foot!
The sparkle of stones and gold soles will amaze the imagination from under the flying hem of the abaya!
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And the winter version, of course. It's fur, boots and suede!
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Let's move on to the male part of the population.
That's what stores offer, of course, men's, not joint.

Huge selection of materials and colors! And with all the simplicity of the style of men's attire, the price may surprise you due to the cost of fabrics. The most expensive one in this store cost a little over $2,000 per meter (sorry, I didn’t document it with a camera, it was a thin woolen suit fabric with small stripes, even for the winter version of jalabiya). And sewing a simple one from an ordinary white fabric can fit into 300-400 dirhams. I think that in the markets or in the shops of which the price will be many times less. But the fabric will be different, of course.
These shades are the most advantageous, in my opinion. When finished they look very nice.
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Well, the favorite part of the men's wardrobe is their amazing slip-on slippers!
And in vain, after all, I approach them so with humor, in the malls separate pavilions are dedicated to them, and the prices ... judge for yourself.
At these stands from 700 dirhams per pair ($200).
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And here is already 3,600 dirhams a pair ($ 1,000).
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I hope that the big picture shows features or outstanding roughness, or maybe the absence of them.
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And now, how this whole attire looks on people. Or rather, just "people people 3" (or 4, I don't remember exactly).
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Everything goes well for slender young people. And even such non-designer clothes can look very dapper.
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Well, fat women look impressive and serious!
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Quite often, a traditional Arab shirt is combined with branded caps. Here's how in this case. Only from the "Formula 1" from Abu Dhabi, I guess.
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A mandatory question from the female part of the population, is there anything under the shirt? I answer yes! Pants are always worn and a T-shirt. Together, they make an awesome set.
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A little offtopic.
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And now girls in abayas and shopping!
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And this is to the question of swinging abayas. As you can see, everything is closed, everything, well, I really want to show a beautiful skirt!
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Favorite blue.
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To be honest, I can’t get used to this form of hiding the body. Somehow uncomfortable from this spectacle, stereotypes ...
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There are also glamorous pink abai finishes.
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I completely forgot to add, the phone (!) As an integral part of the traditional Arab attire! Both male and female. Unisex of a kind!
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And now to the restaurant!
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You can see the embroidery pattern.
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Off again. But it reminds me so much of Wong Kar Wai's "In the Mood for Love"...
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Traditional theme - caring Arab fathers and children (or stroller, or trolley)
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Just kids. Looks like we've seen enough of the Titanic!
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91. Outstanding attitude gesture! I personally see it for the first time!

92. I look far!

93. Expressive looks. All three!

94. Some non-local for sure! She has sneakers, he has moccasins with a back! Is it extreme from the North?

And here are not only beautiful abayas, here is a way of life. Or rather, the favorite habit of Arab women is to entrust someone with their shopping bags, otherwise such a load pulls their hands!
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I could not keep up with these restless Italians, no matter how much I wanted to take a picture at least from the side! That's how to be able to enjoy life, love it today and now, with gratitude for every given minute, and with inexhaustible curiosity and thirst for life, run through the malls far away from home!
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(I promise to provide photos of men's clothes, scarves, ties up close, but later, I think you don't mind)

A plaid skirt has long been part of a business wardrobe. After all, basically it is worn in the office, for study or official events. But a plaid skirt can also be appropriate in casual and romantic outfits. You just need to find the right pair for her. 6 stylish ideas on how to wear a typical office skirt in the cold are already in front of you.

With an oversized sweater

The most obvious winter combination: a plaid skirt and a sweater. Everything is very simple, just choose the top to match the pattern on the skirt and complement the image with accessories (brooch, wide belt or necklace). And to make the usual set look stylish, play with the styles. If the skirt is short and narrow, then it is better to put on a pullover in a more spacious way and tuck its edge into the belt. A fitted jumper is suitable for a long wide skirt.

The most daring fashionistas will surely appreciate the combination of a plaid skirt with a printed sweater. Only the pattern of the jumper should be as angular as on the skirt. Then the appearance will be harmonious.

With colored turtleneck

Even a plaid skirt from a business suit can become part of a trendy and warm look when worn with a trendy turtleneck. Only its color should overlap with the shades of the print on the skirt, otherwise the set will be a failure. Complete the outfit with high boots in the same range as the top, or tight tights to match it.

With a blouse

Soften a tight plaid skirt with a dainty blouse. The trend is just models made of delicate fabrics, with puffed sleeves, frills, a bow on the neck, a teardrop neckline and other romantic details. Pastel colors will also help create a sophisticated look. And if you prefer bold looks, then use juicy shades from the fashion palette of the 2020 season.

With a plaid jacket

A tandem of a plaid skirt and the same jacket often looks rather prim and dreary. But not in this case. Pay attention to the size of the skirt pattern and choose a larger or smaller print jacket for it. A checkered total look does not require any expressive details, except for jewelry. Therefore, a plain turtleneck, tights and shoes will be the best solution for this look.

With the Cossacks

Cowboy boots are the perfect pair of shoes for an oriental-inspired plaid skirt. The mix of two cultures looks very original and does not require additional accents. Therefore, put on a simple shirt or turtleneck in a neutral shade on top so that such a bright "union" does not overload the image. It is also better to refuse colored tights, but plain black or small polka dots will be just right.

With printed tights

A plaid skirt may not be the only printed item in the look. This simple pattern works well with other geometric designs, similarly shaped ornaments, and angular shapes such as stars, hearts, or letters. This means that fantasy tights with such details will also successfully fit into the image with a plaid skirt and, moreover, will emphasize slender legs.

Red is in fashion: 20 stylish looks with a jacket that you want to repeat

Some consider it too catchy and defiant. Others are stylish and elegant. But with the fact that red is a life-affirming and maximally positive color, both of them will agree. It's time to wake up after hibernation and change into bright and stylish things. For example, buy a scarlet jacket - and cheer up not only yourself, but also those around you. So, red is in fashion. We have selected 10 chic looks with a red jacket that you will definitely want to repeat. And you won't get lost in the crowd.

Red jacket and jeans

It seems scarlet and indigo are made for each other. Despite the apparent simplicity, the image is light, elegant and incredibly stylish. And there is no need to talk about the universality of such an option at all. There are only two requirements: a cropped down jacket and high-waisted jeans. Oh, yes, we almost forgot - also choose shorter trousers. From shoes, sneakers, sneakers, rough boots or ankle boots are quite suitable.

Red Jacket and Print Pants

You have probably noticed that plain trousers with a classic cut appear less and less on the streets of cities. No, of course, they have forever registered in the dress code, but street style does fine without them. Because there are a lot of replacement options - pants in a cage, stripes and other equally interesting prints. Try adding them to a red jacket - and you will be pleasantly surprised by the result.

Red jacket and leather pants

You can, of course, recall the harmony of red and black, but ... This season, the dark gives way to more saturated colors. What? All the same red, burgundy, green. These pants look extremely elegant on their own, and together with a bright down jacket it is easy to create a bombastically stylish look.

The clothing of the Arab East, having partially adopted the cultural heritage of antiquity of the Hellenistic-Roman period, the ancient Iranian civilization and other peoples of the East, having remade and fertilized it with a new stream of their own culture, the sources of which come from the ancient civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula as far back as the 1st millennium BC, the Arabs created a very high culture, which at that time significantly exceeded that of Western Europe. The economic basis for the development of this culture was the progress of agricultural production (in particular, the spread of artificial irrigation, cotton growing and sericulture), the rapid growth of cities as centers of diverse handicraft production and the extremely wide development of trade, including foreign trade (with India, China, Ancient Russia, Europe) , which for a long time provided the Arabs with priority in world trade. The Arab ancient traditions of the nomadic way of life, which in the countries of the Arab East continue to be preserved to this day, provided a special originality to the medieval Arab culture. Bedouin nomads have always remained one of the essential figures of Arab public life: everywhere in the Arab countries with developed feudal relations, tribal organization of nomads coexisted. No less characteristic, a special imprint on Arab culture was imposed by the religion of the Arabs - Islam. By subjugating life, morality and other aspects of social sewing, Islam had a significant influence on the direction of development of the spiritual culture of the Arabs - science and art. At the same time, having heard the ideas of "sinfulness of the flesh", Islam, far from asceticism, more "earthly" promised the true believers a material, and not a spiritual paradise.

The spread of Islam in all the (non-Arab) countries conquered by the Arabs contributed to the emergence of some common features in the culture of these countries after the final collapse of the Arab Caliphate and the creation of independent states from them with a peculiar, no longer Arab, but still Muslim culture (Iran, Turkey). Of course, this also applies to costumes as one of the manifestations of social life, as one of the essential elements of material culture. It is in this understanding that one can use the concept of "oriental costume", which is found in our theatrical practice. These are basically Arab costumes that were already formed under the conditions of the Mohammedan religion and adopted some elements of the costumes of the former peoples that were part of the Caliphate, especially the Persians and Turks. They spread in different versions both among these peoples and in the Arab countries, especially among the urban population and in the circles of the ruling elite, as well as in the clergy, and sometimes survived to this day. The Arab costume is far from exhausting the entire variety of Muslim costumes in Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia: they kept and developed their costumes without Arab influence. It is also necessary to add that the very concept of "Arab costume" in the narrow sense is also quite generalized, because on such a large territory that the Arab countries occupied in the Middle Ages, the differences in costumes were significant, because these countries were inhabited by different peoples before the Arab conquest. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Arab costume in Spain, North Africa, Egypt, Syria and Arabia, each had its own specific features. At the same time, the most noticeable were the differences between the West (Spain, North Africa) and the East (Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Arabia).

Undoubtedly, the traditional clothing of the local population in the United Arab Emirates is directly influenced by religion, traditions and climatic features. Emirati men wear a long white kandura dress. White color for Arabs is the color of a noble person, besides, especially in the heat, this color is very practical. In winter, kandura can be beige, sandy, and even light greenish in color. On the head of the Arab men there is a knitted lace cap - “gafia”, on top of which there is a “gutra” scarf (white, milky or red checkered), tied in a special way, or simply held by a woolen band-rim “ikal”. Sometimes on the dress of a local Arab you can see "kerkusha" - a kind of tassel decoration, comparable to a tie. For special occasions, such as weddings, big holidays or a visit to the sheikh, men use the bisht cape. Under the kandura, men wear a "fanila" - an undershirt, a belt - "vuzar" is tied around the waist. During the day, a man can change clothes 3-4 times, so on the streets you will never see an Emirati in a dirty or badly wrinkled outfit. Men's wardrobe usually consists of more than 50 dresses. Of course, locals usually resort to dry cleaning services and rarely wash their clothes at home, especially since dry cleaning in the UAE is very affordable. The most popular shoes for men are leather flip flops. In winter, you can see men in shoes and even sweaters over kandura. Only when traveling abroad can men from the UAE wear a suit or other European clothing.

Arab woman in abaya

Women's attire in the UAE is more layered. Traditionally, ladies wear colored dresses with long sleeves - "kandura". Under the dress they put on trousers - "sirval". A black cloak is worn over the dress - “abaya”, often embroidered with gold, silver, decorated with crystals or pearls. Often, the high cost of decoration and fabric can be used to judge the well-being of a woman's husband. The head of an Emirati woman is covered with a thin black scarf - "shella", covering the head, but not the face. This is the most common headdress in the Emirates. A headdress called "hijab" is less commonly used in UAE clothing by local women, it is more worn by natives of neighboring countries of the Persian Gulf. The hijab consists of two pieces of fabric and covers the woman's hair.

Woman in a burqa

Women from deeply traditional families (especially of Bedouin origin) may cover their heads with the so-called "burqa". It is of two types. The first is a scarf that covers the entire head and face except for the eyes. The second type of cloak is a special design made of metal plates that cover part of the forehead, nose and lips. But women in a burqa are becoming rarer and rarer in the UAE. Another common headdress for women is "gishva". This is a thin translucent scarf that covers the entire head and face. It is dense enough to hide the lady from prying eyes, but at the same time transparent enough so that its owner can see the world around her. Of course, the choice of a headdress for clothes is often determined by what family a woman comes from and how democratic her husband is.

woman in kandoor

Often under an abaya, instead of a traditional dress, there may be a completely modern outfit from a famous European couturier. In addition, following global trends, women buy expensive bags and shoes from well-known brands. There are legends that most of the dresses from high fashion shows go to the Emirates, where women show them to each other at weddings and bachelorette parties, proving their spouse's wealth and their status in the family. In addition, a UAE woman traditionally uses a large amount of jewelry in her clothes, the prices of which are sometimes commensurate with the cost of housing or a car. This is a kind of manifesto of the generosity of a man. There are several versions of why Arab women wear black. According to one version, a woman is the shadow of a man, which is why the robe is black. Some sources say that black hides the subtleties of a woman's figure in the best way, and will not shine through if it gets wet. According to another version, white is a working color, and black is a festive one, and since Emirati women do not work, they always have a holiday. In addition, it is believed that the black color among Eastern people is associated with beauty: black eyes symbolize a beloved woman, black heart - a loving heart. Oddly enough, the color of mourning for Arab women is blue.

The costume of the countries of the East is diverse, as are the traditions of numerous peoples inhabiting the expanses of Asia. However, there are many common features in the costume of these peoples, connected, among other things, with their common history, and with a common religion - Islam.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Arabs crossing the desert

The influence of the Arab Caliphate on fashion

The traditional costume of the Arab countries was formed during the time of the Arab Caliphate, namely in the 7th-8th centuries. This time is considered the heyday of the Caliphate, whose borders at that time began in the Indus River valley and ended near the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Arab caliphate lasted until the 13th century, but at the same time left a significant cultural heritage and influenced the development of the peoples of all the territories that were part of it. And these are the territories of such modern countries as Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Spain, India, Turkey and, of course, the territory of the Arabian Peninsula, where the history of the Caliphate began.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Prayer in the mosque

In Islam, it is forbidden to depict a person, so information about the traditional Arab costume can be found in literature, in the images of the inhabitants of the Muslim East created by Europeans, and also thanks to the traditional clothes that the peoples of the East still wear to this day.

One of such sources on the history of the Arab costume can be the tales of the Thousand and One Nights. So, Scheherazade was described as the owner of an elegant figure, a white smooth face (it was “like the moon on the fourteenth night”), almond-shaped dark eyes under thick and long black eyebrows. It is believed that this was the ideal of female beauty during the Arab Caliphate.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Stop

As for the costume, representatives of all classes of society (from the peasant to the caliph) wore the same clothes in their style, which differed only in the quality of the fabric and the richness of the decor.

Male costume and fashion of the Arab East

In ancient times, the men's clothing of the Arabian tribes consisted of a wide and long shirt with or without sleeves. And also a coverlet that protected the head of the nomads from the scorching rays of the sun. It was the long shirt and the veil that formed the basis of the traditional Arab costume.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Arab with two dogs

Such a shirt consisted of two sewn panels and was necessarily belted with a belt. On top of the shirt was worn a cloak abbas - a cloak made of sheep or camel wool. The coverlet was made from a square piece of fabric and fastened to the head with a braid.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Arab dispute

During the period of wars and the expansion of the territories of the Caliphate, innovations appear in clothing, often borrowed from the conquered peoples. So, trousers were borrowed from the nomadic peoples of Asia, which became an indispensable element of the Arab costume. Trousers-harem pants were white, sewn from cotton fabrics and ankle-length. At the waist, these pants were fastened with a drawstring.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Fur trader in Cairo

Soon, over a white undershirt, men begin to wear a robe (or khaftan) - clothes with long sleeves, decorated in the forearm area with contrasting fabric inserts with inscriptions or patterns. Such a robe-caftan was necessarily girdled. The first such clothing, most likely, appeared in the time of Persia. wearing caftans will come to Europe precisely from the countries of the Arab East.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
carpet merchant

Also, men in the cold season could wear lined woolen clothes like a caftan - such clothes were called jubba. When it was cold, they also wore a cloak made of wool, which was called aba, abai or abaya. Such a cloak could be worn by both men and women.

A turban served as a male headdress. And also keffiyeh - a bedspread or a man's head scarf.

Women's clothing of the Arab East

The traditional women's costume of the Arab East was very similar to the men's costume. The main feature of the women's, as well as the men's costume, in Muslim countries was the simplicity and freedom of clothing, as well as the closeness of the whole body.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Harem girls feeding pigeons

Women also wore an undershirt, kaftans and harem pants, which were called shalvars. Such trousers were pulled together at the hips and gathered in many folds.

Women could also wear dresses. For example, in the Emirates, women wore a gandura dress - a traditional dress embroidered with gold or colored and silver threads. Pants were also worn with such a dress, which were called shirval - pants with folds. Another traditional women's dress is the abaya. Abaya is a long dress made of dark or black fabric. Women of the East still wear gandura and abaya dresses to this day.

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904)
Plot 3

Women in the Arab countries have been wearing veils on their heads since ancient times. So, in the days of the Arab Caliphate, going out into the street, women covered their faces with izar. Isar is a coverlet, the upper end of which was pulled over the back of the head and fastened with a lace on the forehead, while the rest of the fabric in front was fastened with a fastener or held by hands and fell over the back and sides, almost completely covering the figure.

At the same time, in different parts of the former Arab Caliphate, the women's veil will eventually acquire local features and various names. So, in the countries of the Middle East, the veil will be called the veil, most likely, even from the Persian word ferenje, which means “hole”, “window”. Such a veil completely covered the figure and only a kind of “window” was left for the face - a window in the form of a thick mesh fabric.

Frederick Arthur Bridgeman (1847-1928)
In the harem

In the Arab countries (the countries of the Arabian Peninsula), the bedspread is still most often called. Translated from Arabic, this word means a veil. By hijab, most often they mean a scarf that covers the head and neck, while the face remains open. Together with the hijab, women of the East can also wear a niqab - it covers the face, leaving only the eyes open.

Also in Muslim countries, women can wear such a veil as a veil. The chador completely covers the woman from head to toe, but the face may remain open in some cases. The word veil itself, as well as the veil, is of Persian origin. And translated from Persian means tent.

Persia's influence on Islamic fashion

Persia, like the Arab Caliphate, had a great influence on the formation of the traditional costume of the countries of the Muslim East.

Frederick Arthur Bridgeman (1847-1928)
Oasis

It was from Persia that the Arabs borrowed such elements of clothing as the veil, veil, turban, and caftan.

The Persian kingdom existed from the 6th to 4th centuries BC on the territory of modern Iran.

The male costume of the Persians consisted of leather pants and a leather caftan with a belt. The caftan and pants could also be sewn from wool. At the same time, when the Persian king Cyrus conquered Media, he introduced a fashion among his courtiers to wear Median clothes, which also influenced the formation of the Arab costume. Median clothes were made of silk or fine wool, dyed purple and red. It was long and consisted of trousers, a caftan-robe and a cape.

Frederick Arthur Bridgeman (1847-1928)

Almost nothing is known about the female costume of Persia, since on the ancient Persian bas-reliefs that have survived to this day, only male images have been preserved - images of hunters and warriors. However, Persian women were painted by the ancient Greeks. For example, on their vases. So, it can be assumed that in Persia women wore clothes made of expensive fabrics, long and wide, somewhat reminiscent of a men's suit. But at the same time distinguished by the richness of the decor.

Frederick Arthur Bridgeman (1847-1928)
Rogue Queen

Various bedspreads served as women's headdress. While the men wore felt caps and leather hats.

Thus, the traditional costume of the countries of the Arab East has incorporated elements of clothing of many peoples - from the peoples of ancient Media and Persia to the peoples of the Arab Caliphate.