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Apart from the fact that people in China have different facial features than those of Westerners, taking a scan of a typical office, business attire tends to mimic that of Western-style.

The Chinese are not a people prone to displays of grandiosity or being ostentatious while in the work place. Men opt for a well-tailored suit and women can be seen wearing a skirt, blouse, pantyhose and heels of modest height. Her skirt is never form fitting and is always loose, and doesn’t reveal her figure in any manner. In keeping with modesty, jewelry and makeup are kept to a minimum. On those days a woman is not wearing a skirt and blouse, a loose fitting dress, same high heels and pantyhose may be substituted. Customarily, skirts and dresses are to the knee or longer. Colors for both men and women are subdued and essentially do not allow the wearer to call attention to him or herself.

Reserving Color For Weddings
As reserved as the Chinese are in the workplace, and as well as they blend with Westerners in their attire, weddings are anything but subdued, modest and lacking in color and adornments.

For everyone around the world, be they rich or poor, deeply rooted in tradition or rather informal, religious or Atheist, weddings are an opportunity to be someone you aren’t for a day. They are a time for celebrating the union of two people in love and the joining of two families. Far be it for the Chinese not to pull out the stops as they commit to partnership and continue the ancestral line on both sides.

As modest as both men and women are in the work place, get ready to see color and a lot of it at a Chinese wedding. In particular red and gold are most represented. Gold is of course symbolic for wealth and the creation of it as they begin their lives anew. Red is for happiness.

Rooted in Symbolism, This is Her Fashion Story

Unlike Western-style weddings, where the bride wears white to extol her virtues, a Chinese bride is a vision in red. Her red dress, known as a Cheongsam, will often be handmade and have details of a dragon and phoenix embroidered into it. The two represent man and woman respectively and symbolize the balance in marriage between the two. Chinese brides may start out in a white wedding dress, which is entirely influenced by American customs, she will end up in her traditional dress at some point during the festivities.

Adornments
Slightly similar to something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, Chinese women are adorned in symbolism. Her headpiece is fashioned to resemble the phoenix she is and may have a red veil or red beans that lightly caress her exquisitely made up face. Her wedding dress would be nothing if not plain if she were to pair this ensemble with anything other than red heels; the taller the better.

Rooted in Symbolism – His Version of Events
Brides aren’t the only ones who get to wear red and don adornments. A traditional groom will wear a long gown of dark blue. Dragons will have been hand embroidered into his gown, and overtop his gown is a silk coat, usually black. His red sash matches perfectly with his red shoes and the more traditional men will wear a red hat with tassels.

Let’s Eat
Having already tied the knot a few days earlier in a private ceremony, witnessed only by the happy couple’s immediate family, it’s time to eat. The room can fit 350-1000 of their closest friends and the decorations, of course, are made up of a dragon and phoenix and lots of gold and red. The food is nothing short of spectacular, consisting of a roast pig and depending upon where in the country the couple resides, sides dishes appropriate to their region. A Chinese wedding banquet is one that if you have not experienced for yourself, by all means you will want to make friends with a recently engaged Chinese couple.

Although its neighboring countries Thailand and Vietnam have garnered more attention for their beaches or in the case of Vietnam, its politics, Cambodia is a country whose culture, customs and clothing are diverse, colorful and rooted in tradition. Approximately 14 and a half million Cambodians call this beautiful country home.

By day, Cambodians, like many people in Asia, tend to be rather conservative in their attire. Men are expected to wear at minimum slacks and a buttoned up shirt. A tie is optional, but recommended. Alternatively, women are expected to wear ankle length skirts and a nice blouse. Indeed the climate may dictate how Cambodians dress. Tropical can usually mean hot and muggy days and rainy afternoons and evenings. As Cambodian attire is segregated by social classes and caste boundaries, attire may differ greatly between the peoples who live there. Traditional (both rural and urban) Cambodians wear something called a Krama, which is unique to the Khmer (Cambodians), and is not worn by the neighboring Laotians, Thai or Vietnamese. As versatile as it is beautiful, the scarf-like garment serves as both protection from the elements and is a signature of uniquely Cambodian style, often worn under the Vietnamese-inspired conical hat or as a sarong.

If anything can be thought of as ‘official’ attire for the country, the traditional and elegant sampot can. Influenced by China (rather than Vietnam, like the hat), there are different varieties of the sampot depending on the wearer’s social class. The higher up one is, the more intricate and beautiful the garment. The varieties of sampot are:

• Sampot chang kben
Usually worn by women of the upper and middle class, this sampot resembles a pair of pants more than it does a skirt like other varieties. It is favored by women of ‘all’ classes for holidays and special occasions.

• Sampot phamuong
More complex in its crafting than the chang kben, the phamuong features rich floral and geometrical prints. Highly prized yellow Cambodian silk is often used in its making.

• Sampot hol
Coming in two varieties, the sampot hol can be worn as either a wrapping skirt (made in the typical fashion of such garments), or as a twill weave wrap. The difference is that for the twill weave, each side of the length of cloth is a different color and sports a different print as well. Inspired by Indian attire, its prints are similar to, if not identical to those of the sampot phamuong – featuring floral, geometric or animal designs.

While jewelry and ostentatious displays are out of keeping with societal norms in Cambodia, some men and women both do favor jewelry with a religious purpose. Some, like the Buddha pendant are worn about the neck. There are other pendants as well, each serving some other purpose in the daily lives of the Khmer. Some are believed to provide good luck, others, protection from evil spirits.

While the concept of ‘daily wear’ has faded in Cambodia, requiring many to adopt the aforementioned semi-formal attire in the day-to-day, it has not gone completely. Look around as you explore this rich and beautiful land and you must see something memorable.

The continent of Africa is a place rich in history, culture and beauty. Certainly, there are thriving locales like Cairo, Lagos and Johannesburg, with much to commend them. This article wishes to point out another jewel in the crown that is Africa – Kenya, specifically Nairobi, and its fashion.

Western Attire in Kenya

Kenyan clothing and jewelry includes some of the most beautiful and diverse colors in the world. Although many Kenyans now wear Western-style clothing, the country is home to forty different ethnic groups. As such, the cultural heritage surrounding attire and adornment is immensely varied – from emblematic and evocative Masai blankets to the Muslim-influenced dress of the eastern coast. The most politically active Kenyans (the Kikuyu, Akamba and Luo), and those residing in urban areas) are the source of much of the country’s western attire. Many others still wear more traditional clothing such as the kanga (a length of cloth which can be worn as a shawl, shirt or headscarf). Given its prevalence in the more populous areas of Kenya, Western attire doesn’t necessarily denote one’s social status. Much like in other parts of the world however, brand names and clothing labels do.

Traditional Masai Attire

While it isn’t unusual to see a Masai wearing a digital watch or carrying a cell phone, they are one of the social groups in Kenya who attempt to adhere to traditional ways. Kanga and intricate bead necklaces are common among women. As is common with many tribes throughout the world, symbolism is important to the Masai as well. As one might suppose, colors play an important role in Masai life. Red symbolizes bravery (among related traits), white symbolizes peace, blue, water. To the Masai, all of these things are of utmost importance, so it makes sense that they would identify so closely with them. Men often will wear a red-checkered blanket called a shuka, and once they’ve undergone the customary initiation rites, they will dye their hair red as well, with ochre and fat.   Patterned attire, such as the kikoi (a type of sarong worn by the coastal Masai) is preferred, and though the shuka is patterned with checks, stripes are a predominant motif. Bracelets of wood are common among both men and women, and exquisitely crafted beadwork is typically worn by the women. Masai self-identity and social standing within the tribe is articulated through the use of body ornamentation and painting. Prior to contact with Europeans, Masai beads were primarily made from diverse raw materials that were readily available, such as clay, shells, ivory, bone, brass, copper, gourds, seeds, charcoal and iron. Following the arrival of Europeans, glass beads in myriad shades and hues (often bright and colorful) became very prevalent, engendering a shift in the color schemes and presentation of Masai jewelry.

The Masai are but one of many subsets of Kenyan culture. They, along with the Bantu (Meru, Luhya, etc) and Nilotes (of which the Masai are part, along with the Samburu and Kalenjin) are joined by the Cushites. Immigrants are also prevalent, comprised of Arabs, Indians (from the Subcontinent) and Britons (descendants of the first colonials). All combine to make Kenya the rich melting pot that it is today, and while each group maintains its own heritage and history, they contribute immeasurably to the whole.

Brazil was a Portuguese colony for over 300-years before claiming independence in 1822. This large South American country still speaks Portuguese as their predominant language, and the citizens who are descended from African slaves are still treated as a part of their lower-class systems. In all social classes, care is demanded in dress codes, and extreme attention to details is required by those who wish to claim a proper home.

Understanding the Brazilian Bikini Craze

Brazil is a country that is widely known for their scantily clad beautiful women and men on the beach. This country boasts a 73.6% Roman Catholic population that do not all live on the waterfront. The fashions in Brazil are more involved than the simple minimalistic beach styles that are photographed so often. Those beautiful bikini-clad girls on the beach are still often accompanied by the traditional male family escort until they are married.

Female Business Attire in Brazil

Women make up 40% of the Brazilian workforce while occupying most of the lower-pay positions. In 1988, the laws were changed to make it illegal to discriminate against woman. However, all old traditions are hard to change. Business attire for all classes of women include meticulously manicured nails, carefully arranged hair, make-up applied with care, and business-elegant or feminine clothing that will speak well of the family.

Employment positions in Brazil are often attained through family connections. Females who are in the workforce are always dressing to display a respect to all extended family members. Feminine attire includes jewelry to match each outfit, tasteful hair clips, and the ability to harmonize all accessories to match the main garment color-tones. Brazil has a tropical environment and light colored clothing is often in vogue.

Male Business Attire in Brazil

In Brazil, men who are in business often dress in business-formal attire daily. Dark two-pieced suits that are accented with lavish cufflinks, upper-quality watches, and a flashy wedding ring can speak well of individual and the extended family. Executives often wear a full three-piece dark suit at work to denote rank during all weather conditions. Men from Brazil have manicured nails and they wear the latest fashions in eyewear.

When Brazilian business meetings take place, eye contact is required by custom. Men are concerned with their facial appearances while they are out in public. Part of the cultural expectations requires each business meeting to include informal discussions about family and friends to ensure a trusting environment. When a Brazilian man pulls a wallet out of his pocket to show off pictures, this wallet will be made of the softest leather available.

The Sexy Brazil Jeans

It only takes one glance at a pair of Brazil jeans to know that the woman inside of those jeans is beautiful. Unlike other jean fashions, the Brazilian jeans for women are elegant garments that take care with every detail. In Brazil, the jeans are designed to highlight a perfectly curving seat. Legs are tapered and decorated in intricate ways that slim the overall appearance. These fashionable blue jeans are worn with the traditional warm weather halter-tops that show just enough skin to be alluring. As with all other forms of dress for women in Brazil, each blue jean outfit is carefully selected and accessorized to be ultra-feminine.

Brazil Fashion in Recent Years

Brazil is like all other countries on the planet. After the Internet arrived on the scene, it is now possible to see fashions from all parts of the planet mixed into the traditional Brazil wardrobe choices. However, this is a country that clings to their immaculate appearances and trendy clothing choices that highlight individual positions within their social-class structures. Brazil may have the best dressed citizens on the planet.   

In some parts of the world, time seems to stand still where culture and dress are concerned. The Indian subcontinent is one such place, taking old and new and blending it in a unique and alluring package that has endured for centuries, and will doubtless continue to endure for centuries more.

No one region in India shares exactly the same colors and styles; it depends partly upon climate, and partly upon subtly different social rules for an area as to what’s available. The sari is a length of cloth that drapes elegantly and loosely upon the feminine body. Similar yet distinctly different is the dhoti for men. The latter is rectangular and unstitched, draped over the shoulders and wrapped about the waist where it is knotted. The lungi (or sarong) is also popular. Such is the quality of Indian weaving, that many garments are simply lengths of cloth that are wrapped about the body and held in place with pins or knots. However, stitched garments do exist, they also tend to flow and breathe, which as you can see, is one unifying trait shared by almost all uniquely Indian attire. Salwar kameez (or tunic and pants) is an alternative to the sari that has gained ground for both men and women of late. The kurta is a loose, knee-length tunic that is usually worn with trousers and belted at the waist. Lastly, European-style trousers and shirts are also well-known to the subcontinent.

The Hindu film industry, colloquially known as Bollywood has been a strong influence on fashion and attire since the 1960s and 1970s, giving it a modern, sensual sensibility that many find appealing. From colors, which are typically bright and vibrant, accentuating the actress in question in a most flattering fashion, to unique cuts for the cloth, the sheer variety is nearly endless. Colors aren’t the only innovation; materials as well as embroidery techniques are springing up all the time. Velvet featuring zardosi (an embroidery technique of a fairly complex type) and deep-cut blouses are wildly popular.

When it comes to adornment, gold is exceedingly popular virtually everywhere in India. Indians believe that it has the power to purify anything it touches, so it’s typically worn against bare skin. Additionally, necklaces of beads, gold or diamonds are popular among girls and women, as are bangles worn upon the wrists, earrings, as well as finger and toe rings and anklets. The latter are usually worn by married women.