It can be flattering to gift someone in your life a garment relevant to their culture, or it can be heartfelt to wear them when overseas and exploring this wide world of ours. However, it’s also important to remember that while you shouldn’t feel like treading on eggshells and it’s always fine to ask questions no matter what, sometimes it’s best to be sure before you go on or make any assumptions.
This allows you to show you've put careful thought into your choice, and any result is arrived at solely from the goodwill of your own intention. If you haven’t been raised in a culture, there’s no reason why you can’t understand it. However, it’s true that you might not know everything. There’s nothing to apologize for as far as this is concerned, but even so, it can be wise to take a step back and see how to better approach this standard.
In this post, we’ll discuss some approaches that can help:
Research Sizes, Styles & Types
Getting the right size really matters because traditional garments often follow different sizing conventions than what you might be used to. Take a moment to really understand the measurements needed, especially since many beautiful traditional pieces like abayas can flow differently than Western clothing which may come more naturally to you. Learning about the various styles available helps too.
Look through authentic shops and sellers who have a history of expression and craftsmanship in these garments. They usually have detailed size guides and can explain the very many differences between formal and casual versions of the same piece.
Consider Cultural Acceptability & Appropriate Times For Dress
Nobody wants to make others uncomfortable or seem disrespectful, and don’t worry, unless you’re dealing with someone very brittle they won’t take a slight mistake as an offense. But it’s also nice to have your gift or personal dress nail it the first time. Cultural clothing often carries deep meaning to some, and as such many garments are meant for specific occasions or contexts.
Learning about these moments helps everyone feel more at ease and it’s pretty fun as well. For instance, is that accessory or piece of clothing for religious observations, or daily life, and if so, which is most suitable for you to wear? Sometimes certain colors or patterns mean specific things. For instance, a guest wearing a bright white dress to a Western wedding isn’t going to really pan out well. We take that for granted but not everyone knows, just as you don’t know everything about the culture you’re focused on.
Think About Familiarity & Suitability
Starting small makes perfect sense if traditional clothing feels new to you, you don’t have to have the whole outfit and multiple variants of it in place immediately. It’s pretty common to begin with simpler pieces before moving toward more elaborate ones for an event, and always asking what’s appropriate is fine. If your friend is having an interfaith marriage, for instance, you might ask what is most appropriate and even send them an outfit to review to see if they like it before. There’s nothing wrong with trying to gain another person’s view on it, or even using a stylist or tailor from that culture to assist you.
With this advice, you’re sure to nail cultural dress, no matter the context.