FASHION OF AFRICA
Don’t you just get mesmerised by the
amazing prints and vibrant colors of African clothing!? I’m sure I do! African
clothing has changed over time, however Europeans and Arabs have had great
influence in the way the fashion of Africa has been shaped. Today we see modern
day Africans wearing the western style of shirts, pants, dresses and shoes.
Nonetheless, there still remain the traditional African whom combine their
cultural clothing with the western style creating a infusion of exotic styles.
African Women’s clothing
Traditional women’s clothing comes in many
different styles, prints with whole a range. African women’s clothing includes
beaded skirts, kaftans, blankets, veils and other exotic materials. They are
known for their outfits filled with vibrant colors and colorful jewelry. Kaftan
is an popular option most African women opt for. It is a gorgeous full-length
dress, made very loose and flowy with beautiful bursts of color and embroidery.
They are usually made out of cotton or silk. A more lavish and elegant option
is known as the African Queen dress, which is known for its flamboyant design
and style. Unlike the Kaftan, the African Dress is known to exhibit the woman’s
full figure. The prominent tie dye you
may witness on many African outfits is characterized by the symbols and
designs suggesting fertility meanings, who knew that!
African Men's Clothing
In East Africa the weather is mainly very
hot, and men are found wearing Kangas and Kitenges, which are a type of T-shirt
around their waists. However, the national dress for the Kenyan men is a full-sleeved
dashiki shirt, which goes with matching pants and a kofia (hat). Some men still wear kaftans but women mostly
wear them. Tanzanian men wear a white robe called Kansu that has a tassel and a
small round cap (kofia).
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