The modesty of Middle Eastern costumes hails the rich expressions of their people's identity. Can Westerners wear dishdasha? It is one of those thoughts that dance on your mind just before buckling up to visit these places because clothing represents a strong association and deep connection to the land, its history, and the traditional practices of the ancestors.
For example, whenever you're trying to remember something about someone, you try recalling their facial expressions, hair colour, and costume of that person – this cognitive behaviour is natural. Most tourists or travellers often find themselves puzzled about how to get to know and enjoy a particular place at a specific time. It is because the apparent personality of a person is the first impression you'll get.
Can Westerners Wear Dishdasha?
Before finding a simple 'yes' or 'no' to 'Can westerners wear dishdasha?' let's dive into the prerequisites non-natives need to consider before wearing any dress that is not a norm in their town or state.
Learning Arabic attire's background history, traditions, and symbolism is necessary to understand by engaging in educational activities. For instance, you can attend traditional events, read a book about different regional customs, or virtually connect and socialise with other people to promote amicable cross-cultural exchange worldwide.
Wearing culture-specific dresses to events or gatherings where they're warmly welcomed is respected. However, wearing them in irrelevant situations might be considered disrespectful, as if you've hurt the sentiments of the natives of a country.
Whether you plan to wear kaftan, dishdasha, or djellaba, it is recommended to consult the local designers of your country because most of the owners are natives of those regions and have roots deeply embedded in the classic and trendy styles of such outfits. Purchasing such delicately handcrafted clothing supports local economic growth and contributes to the preservation of traditional craftsmanship and, most importantly, the livelihood of the artisans.
The concept of cultural appreciation rises from compassionate understanding and admiration, where people know the significance of traditional garments. Doing so promotes friendly alliances between different nations and builds compassion among laypersons.
Increasing Fame of Arabic Attires
For the last many years, thobes, kaftans, and dishdashas have become immensely popular as these dresses offer a limitless pool of diversity and enable you to style as per your preferences. Such modest yet elegant attires have become a fashion statement and are equally trendy among tourists, which is another reason for outsiders to think about 'Can westerners wear dishdasha?'.
Wearing and styling any outfit of your choice is ethical. However, justified practice and promotion of cultural appreciation must be your goal. Besides, thobes and dishdashas are not a mere part of robe-like dresses because, for centuries, both men and women of Middle Eastern and North African origins used to wear these freely flowing gowns, which symbolises wealth, status, and power.
Thobes vs Dishdasha
Despite resembling each other in several ways, it is essential to differentiate between thawbs and dishdashas before delving into the details to find the solution to Can westerners wear dishdasha?.
The term 'thobe' is also spelt as 'thawb' or 'tobe' and is a long, loose-fitting dress with slightly narrow sleeves and cuffs. The neckline, cuffs, and front placket are embellished with sober yet graceful manly embroideries or embellishments. Men prefer wearing monochromatic tobes in white, brown, grey, or blue.
On the other hand, a dishdasha differs from thawbs by having wider and roomier sleeves that allow for ample air circulation in hot and humid weather. Instead of different colours and fabrics, men prefer white-coloured dishdashas without any embroidery patterns or decorations.
Conclusion
The most straightforward answer to your question, Can Westerners wear dishdasha? is 'yes'. Anyone can put on dishdashas if they desire. However, this clothing type may only be suitable for men. Art doesn't recognize boundaries, and fashion is the name of innovation promoting cultural exchange. We can bridge the gap among nations by fostering empathy with genuine curiosity, respect, and willingness to learn about different traditions.
New Arabia deals in all sorts of thobes UK, djellabas, kaftans perfectly tailored to meet your preferences by becoming a source of embracing and promoting diversity in the fashion landscape.
