Traditional Mexican men's costume has changed very little during centuries. But we can't say the same about women's clothing. Most of costumes were formed by mixing the culture of Native Americans and European people (mostly Spanish new settlers).
Mexican traditional attire. Photo from Mexican-clothing-co.com
The national clothing of Mexico is made of various fabrics: wool, cotton, silk, agave, and bark. Usually the colors of traditional dress are red, brown, green and yellow. Mexicans used to dye their clothes with natural components, but today they don't have to do that.
Traditional men's pieces of clothing
The most popular and well-known men's pieces of clothing in Mexico are sarape, charro suit, sombrero, guayabero, baja jacket, and poncho.
Sarape is a vibrantly colored garment with a fringe. It is used as a shawl-like coat and also as a blanket.
Man in national Mexican clothing. Photo from Globerove.com
Baja jacket is a Mexican hooded shirt which is very popular among Mexican and American youth. Mostly men wear it, but women sometimes also do. It is loved by hippies. Baja jacket usually is rather warm, it has a hood and a large pocket situated on the belly. Baja jacket is often colorful, with striped pattern and looks very youthful.
Poncho is one of the typical Mexican pieces of clothing that is well-known and loved all around the world. It is a warm outerwear. There are many different variations of poncho. For example, classical poncho is a simple piece of cloth with a hole for the head; it doesn't have sleeves, but sometimes has a hood. Rainproof poncho is fitted with fasteners for the sides or has openings for the arms. It is more typical for men to wear poncho, but some women use it too.
We could dedicate the whole chapter to Mexican shoes, but we'll make it short and tell you only the main information. There are several types of traditional Mexican men's shoes: huaraches, Mexican pointy boots and Mexican cowboy boots.
Huaraches, Mexican pointy boots and Mexican cowboy boots
Mexican cowboy boots look pretty much like American ones. They were used by cowboys in Mexico from 1800s. They are made of leather (often exotic animal skin is used – armadillo, bull, ostrich, lizard), they can be high-heeled or flat-heeled, with high or low boot-top. Mexican cowboy boots usually have narrow pointed toes. Huaraches are the most common shoes in Mexico. They are sandals, rather simple to make. There is a great variety of huaraches. Usually they are made of leather (modern huaraches can be made of synthetic materials). Huaraches are always handmade. Mexican pointy boots are very unusual and astonishing. They have narrow and elongated toe. Sometimes their toe is up to 1.5 meter (5 feet) long and curved up to the knees of a man. Usually Mexican pointy boots are very colorful, often decorated with such elements as flashing LED lights, disco balls and even mirrors. They are often worn by bands, singers and dancers.
Traditional women's pieces of clothing
The most popular and well-known women's pieces of clothing in Mexico are huipil, quechquémitl, rebozo, Mexican skirts (they have various names in different regions – enredo, chincuete, posahuanco, refajo, enagua).
Huipil is a sleeveless tunic, made from cotton or wool. It is worn with a skirt. The design of this piece depends on a region, beliefs, marital status and so on. Huipil is one of the most popular women's clothing in Mexico.
Quechquémitl is a festive kind of poncho. It is worn for parties, holidays and festivals. Quechquémitl should be handmade from handwoven cloth. Also it is often heavily embroidered. It is very colorful and beautiful.
Women in traditional colorful Oaxaca dresses. Photo from Nativepeoplephotographer.typepad.com
Rebozo is a shawl/scarf made from cotton, wool, or silk. The color and pattern of rebozo represent the region and community. This piece of Mexican traditional costume is used not only as clothes, but also to carry products and goods, even babies.
Mexican skirts can be ankle-long or knee-long. They are made from cotton, wool, silk and lace. Very often they are wide, bright and embroidered.
Mexican women also like blouses very much. There is a great variety of blouses. But usually they are beautifully decorated with lace, beads, colorful patterns, and embroidery.
Traditional Mexican dress designs
Every corner of Mexico has its own traditional dress design. Mexican women wear very beautiful and feminine dresses. For example.
Jalisco Traditional Dress
It is also called Escaramuza dress. It consists of a cotton blouse with a high collar, and stripes of embroidery; and a wide skirt. The skirt is very nice-looking, its waves are decorated with stripes and form a star of stripes on hips.
Jalisco Traditional Dress
Michoacan Traditional Dress
Dresses of this style are very sophisticated. They consist of a long skirt with ribbons or patterns; a long blouse embroidered at the bottom and around the neck; a belt; and rebozo. Embroidered aprons are also used.
Michoacan Traditional Dress. Photo from Pinterest.com
Tabasco Traditional Dress
This dress is very feminine and delicate. Women in this region like floral embroidery, bright ribbons and hair decorations with flowers. Tabasco dress consists of a white blouse with embroidery around the neck and on sleeves; black or colorful skirt with floral pattern. Accessories are welcomed.
Tabasco Traditional Dress. Photo from Mexican-clothing-co.com
Campeche Traditional Dress
This dress design was formed under the Spanish influence. It consists of a long wide skirt made of Spanish print fabric, often decorated with lace; a white blouse with a square collar and black embroidery; and rebozo.
Campeche Traditional Dress. Photo from Mexican-clothing-co.com
Chiapas Traditional Dress
These dresses are really unique and extraordinary. They are handmade; women from the town Chiapa de Corzo make these dresses. They consist of a wide skirt and a blouse (or dress), very heavily embroidered and decorated with ribbons. The background is black, and the embroidery is colorful and bright. Usually flower patterns are used.
Chiapas Traditional Dress. Photo from Skyscrapercity.com
Traditional Mexican accessories
There are a lot of accessories which go with the national Mexican costume. Accessories for women are: ribbons, ritual necklaces, amulets, tehuana headdress, and tzutes (woven piece of cloth – shawl or scarf). Women in this country like ribbons very much. They often wear ribbons around the neck, as a necklace. Also they use unusual materials as accessories. For example, seashells and fishbones are used.
Accessories for men are: cowboy hats and boots, sombreros and other wide hats made of straw and palm leaves, moral, and faja. Moral is a typical bag with shoulder strap, it is very popular in Mexico. Faja is a kind of sash which is worn with pants and capixay (pullover), and function as a belt.
Mexican people are very religious and superstitious. So they often wear different amulets and guardians which are believed to defend people from evil. Amulets are popular among both men and women.
