A few months ago, I was wandering through Bourke Street Mall on a summer’s Saturday afternoon and spied some buskers wearing traditional cultural attire (photo).
I wondered if anyone saw this scene as racist.
I stopped to watch. It stuck me as odd that they were wearing sunglasses with their outfits.
Three buskers, three instruments and three Sri Lankan outfits. | Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes.
There are two scenarios when it comes to wearing cultural clothing: us wearing our own culture’s traditional clothes and us wearing another culture’s traditional clothes.
Lots of negativity surrounds the second one. Westerners dressing up as geishas and Native Americans during Halloween and on entertainment shows have been labeled as racist. The “We’re a culture. Not a costume” campaign believes this reinforces stereotypes.
There’s much discussion arguing that native fashion has been commodified and a number of us wear traditional garb thinking it’s cool to do so. There’s also discussion suggesting we’re supposedly cherishing foreign cultures when we don another culture’s garments; after all, culture permeates our daily lives and is always borrowed (think fusion food, checkered clothing). “Cultural appropriation” – the adoption of elements of one culture by another cultural group – is seen as cultural thievery to some and cultural appreciation to others.
Wearing traditional attire is different from dressing up as another race with face paint and all. People of colour have been discriminated against throughout time. Painting our face brown or white for kicks signifies we’re being insensitive to another culture’s history. But in a multicultural world, surely there are times when we can wear other ethnicities’ traditional attire and respectfully engage with their cultures.
For starters, wearing cultural attire as part of formal ceremonies allows us to immerse ourselves in unfamiliar customs. Interracial weddings often require the bride and groom to put on symbolic traditional dress. For instance, in Cantonese weddings, jewelry exchange is an important part of the ceremony, so wearing Chinese wedding attire is a respectful necessity.
Within an educational setting, donning traditional garments for cultural performances can help us understand the history of other ethnicities. As an eight year old in Malaysia, my teacher taught my class how to perform the Indian dance for our school’s annual theatre show. As we got fitted for our saris, the teacher explained to us why they were so colourful. Until this day, I remember her explaining that in Indian culture, bright colours are auspicious.
Wearing cultural attire at festivals potentially makes us more approachable to different races, serving as conversation starters. It’s common to see people on these occasions admiring and going up to those (usually the hosts) wearing traditional dress and asking them for photos. So if we wear something relevant to cultural festivals, there’s every chance we’ll get approached and make a new friend.
There’s no law stating we can’t wear other races’ traditional clothes. We can wear these clothes out on the street any time though most likely someone will frown at this. If we take the time to learn about a certain culture and avoid wearing its cultural clothes in a provocative and violent fashion, maybe we’ll feel good in what we’re wearing no matter what others think. Consequently, stereotypes have a positive side in that they assist in sustaining cultural traditions. If we ignore stereotypes, we may lose sight of the significance and beauty of individual cultures.
Some of us appear to be wearing our own culture’s traditional clothes less and less in Australia. I was in Chinatown on the first day of the Lunar New Year recently and hardly anyone in the crowds around me was wearing a cheongsam or áo dài. These are still very popular garments today in Malaysia and Vietnam respectively on this occasion.
I’ve also noticed some of us are keen on wearing only specific items of a cultural outfit. For instance, I’ve seen Chinese ladies pairing a samfoo top with jeans as opposed to customarily pairing it with loose fitting trousers, and Malay women doing likewise with baju kurung blouses. No one has expressed outrage at these fashion choices.
So I guess it’s okay to wear sunglasses with a traditional outfit.
Have you worn traditional cultural clothing? When should we wear another culture’s traditional clothes?
Mabel Kwong 
I think there are extremes in every situation, as there are in this one. People tend to be overly sensitive for some of the more basic costumes, and then there are crazy people who dress up as something stupidly offensive like “suicide bomber” it’s all about education and balance.
Tyler
onelittleblackdress.com
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Culture and race are sensitive issues and topics, so some people will have strong feelings and opinions against a topic such as cultural attire. I think most people wear such costumes with no ill intention and just want a bit of harmless fun while showing appreciation for other cultures. Definitely agree it’s all about education and balance. Wish there more was thought about ethnic clothing in schools, and other cultures in general as well.
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I went to a Chuseok party when I was in Seoul. Part of it involved us dressing up in hanboks and taking silly selfies. I was worried that I was desecrating some kind of important traditional custom but it turns out it really is tradition for Koreans to play dress up on Chuseok – though the selfies are a modern addition. The native Koreans at our party took the silliest selfies out of everyone else there!
At Lunar New Year in Brisbane there was a stall selling Cheongsams. Aussies were buying them for their daughters, which seemed a bit weird to me – but the Chinese lady selling the dresses seemed to encourage them. Cheongsams are GORGEOUS and I’d love to wear one, but I feel funny about it because I’m not Chinese and I get mistaken for Chinese enough as it is.
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That party you went to sounds like a lot of fun, especially with the incorporation of the selfies. I bet all of you were smiling a lot and pulling lots of silly poses 🙂 From what I know, Hanboks comes in different colors and are usually very bright, so it must be a very colourful party too. It’s good that the younger generation are carrying on this tradition with costumes, because I’m sure the Hanbok has its place in Korean culture.
That’s very weird, a stall selling Cheongsams. Haven’t seen that in Melbourne yet. Maybe the (white) Aussies were buying them because they were on sale, or they thought the traditional Chinese clothes were some sort of treasure from the land of Asia. I think you should’ve bought one. Who cares what others think? People always assume I am Chinese without them asking me. Which I am, but honestly a lot of the time I don’t like it.
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yes I wont care when others think I’m buying an article of non-european clothing on account of my ineducation.I cant properly appreciate another culture.
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Nothing wrong with buying a piece of traditional cultural clothing from a culture that we don’t know much about. We can always start learning and appreciating other cultures by talking to someone of a different background or reading about it in books or somewhere online.
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Ok, I have not seen a Westerner dressed as a geisha yet, but if I did I think my thoughts would be to wonder what their philosophy and daily way of life usually would be (as opposed to any negative thoughts). Here in Spain, many areas have traditional festivities once in a while where you can wear the traditional costume. If a non-local wears the traditional costume, the locals would feel very proud about it 🙂
xx
PS My sunglasses have prescription lenses because I’m short sighted, I don’t care what I wear them with because I see better with them!
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Have to agree with the positives thoughts you have there. I don’t think thinking negative about people wearing traditional costumes would bring about anything good – all we would be doing is unfairly judging that other person who may be a very good person but isn’t all that well-versed with other cultures and foreign customs.
In Malaysia, locals gawk at Westerners who wear traditional Malay or Chinese clothes and most of the time are accepting of this. I would love to go to Spain one day and dress up in their traditional costume and learn about it from the locals – from the sounds of it, I’m sure the locals would answer my questions 🙂
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Interesting topic. Here in the States, Halloween is a huge holiday. And it just seems to be getting bigger. Halloween is not just for kids anymore. While I don’t think that donning different cultural dress as a costume is necessarily racist, it certainly can be. I suppose it depends on the wearer. Is the person mocking? Making fun? Exaggerating? The whole point of Halloween costumes is to masquerade as something or someone you are not for a couple hours. One year when I was taking Kung Fu classes, I wore my Kung Fu outfit for Halloween one year because I was too lazy to come up with something else. (I added a black sash, though!)
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Halloween seems to be more of an American thing than an Australian one. But over the past few years in Australia, it seems to be getting bigger with more Halloween items being sold in stores at the end of October. Yeah, it really does depend on the person and their intentions and reasons for wearing cultural costumes during this time of the year. Like any other festive occasion, Halloween is meant to be fun and I think majority of people dressing up mean no harm.
I’m sure we can all masquerade another culture’s outfit respectfully and tastefully. Sometimes I think some of us judge others too harshly and without thinking. Didn’t sound like you were lazy at all with your costume. It sounds cool to me, don’t think I’ve seen anyone done that for Halloween. Did your friends like? And more importantly, did anyone think you were being offensive to Chinese culture?
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Thanks for your comment. Actually, my costume was very well received. I got lots of “sensei”-type comments, etc. In return I would give a traditional salute. It was fun. I didn’t receive any negative comments, at it was a very public party. Again, I think the key is whether one is being respectful, or whether one is donning a caricature.
(Sometimes after a Kung Fu class, I would need to stop at the grocery store. I always felt self conscious, but I knew no one would give me flack! I miss my Kung Fu!)
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Haha, I think you responded in a very appropriate and respectful fashion! Yes, I like how you put it: sometimes we don a caricature – such an important word here – as opposed to respecting a race and appreciating their traditional attire. Sounds like you really enjoyed Kung Fu when you were younger and proud to have worn the traditional Kung Fu dress to each class. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen or heard anyone who goes to Kung Fu class without wearing that particular clothing.
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Sad to say, but on Halloween in America, there are some people (usually white folks but sometimes non-whites) that are dressed as a Japanese geisha ,a Native American Indian, wearing a Mexican Sombrero or sometimes a Scottish kilt which is obviously offensive to many people. There is a stark difference between “appreciating” a culture and disrespectfully trivializing it and treating it as a comical costume. Unfortunately companies that make and sell these costumes still make money off of it.
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Halloween seems to be an American thing, not so much here in Australia. From what I’ve seen online and what you’ve mentioned, some of the ethnic/native costumes do seem a bit outrageous and sexualised and its understandable why some people will feel offended. I often wonder what is so appealing about such over-the-top costumes. We live in a promiscuous, image-focused society today, so maybe some of us think that there is nothing wrong with skimpy versions of ethnic attire. More education about cultural attire is definitely needed.
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I think as Americans, a lot of our ignorance and fascination with cultural costumes is because we don’t really have any of our own traditional costumes. My husband is Korean, and I was so excited to get my own hanbok to wear for our wedding! I don’t really see anything wrong with dressing in another culture’s costume as long it is done with respect.
Thanks for commenting on my post by the way!
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Thanks, Jen. That’s a very interesting thought there, and I think you’re right. Suits, shirts and pants are considered normal attire for many Anglo-Western cultures. Traditional costumes also are not exactly a common sight in many Western countries. For example, a lot of Asian traditional clothes don’t make their way to the Western corners of the world for a number of reasons: it’s expensive to ship such beautiful clothes over, not many people know how to make these costumes in, say, the States or Australia, and there’s not much of a market for them here.
Looking at your wedding photos on your blog, you look lovely and beautiful in your hanbok! Tastefully done! I’ve followed your blog too 🙂
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Flip the situation around: as a Chinese man wearing a suit to work every day, am I being racist towards Caucasians? Setting aside the obvious consideration of racism being about a cultural majority imposing its will upon a minority, the answer is obviously no.
But even if the majority/minority is taken into account, what does it show but a person’s knowledge (or lack thereof) of the other culture?
To whit, when Katy Perry dressed as a geisha at the American Music Awards, the western media howled that she was guilty of racism (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2513107/Katy-Perry-accused-racism-dressing-geisha-AMAs.html). But look closely at what she’s wearing: the dress is, in fact, Chinese.
I suppose my point is that ignorance can be a symptom of racism, but it is not racism in itself 🙂
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As you’ve answered yourself, no, you’re not being racist. All around the world everyday working professionals regardless of race don a suit to work. Suits have a Western origin. I don’t think any of us pause to think about this when we put on our suits on a weekday. Same goes for T-shirt and jeans.
Yes, you’re very sharp. The collar of Katy’s dress is a dead giveaway that the dress is Chinese. There is a fine line between ignorance and racism, in my opinion. Through ignorance, we may be susceptible towards distancing ourselves from other cultures and what is dangerous is that this may encourage us to think highly of our own culture.
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Paul Keating thought it was ok see http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/08/29/1226460/958292-120830-strewth.jpg
It is also common for politicians meeting in Pacific Islands and Asian countries to temporarily stop wearing the suit and don traditional dress of the host country.I think I remember seeing a few meetings for ASEAN where traditional dress was worn.
I don’t have much experience with black face other than a movie I saw on TV a few years ago. I understanding that it is considered highly offensive but it seemed harmless enough to me. If something caricatures a culture then it is prejudice but my impression of black face was that it tried to harness the expressively comic look that obviously lots of people felt black people had. I must confess that I don’t find Eddie Murphy very funny but he looks funny and I feel that way about many black people. (Perhaps it is the white teeth that seem to enhance the smile against black skin.) Maybe for some that is a negative feeling on my behalf as they think I would be less likely to take black people seriously but I personally just feel a greater sense of warmth.
I can empathize with being culturally caricatured though. A few years ago, I acted in about 8 episodes of a Chinese game show where the host made jokes about cheating me out of money. The basis of the joke was that foreigners were idiots and it is a great laugh when that idiocy can be exploited. It annoyed me because Chinese were always tried to cheat me and I didn’t find it funny. I didn’t like having to walk around not trusting people.
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So glad that you brought up the fact that our ministers don traditional costumes of the country that they are visiting. That didn’t cross my mind at all when I was writing this article. Our news media always makes a big point of showing our leaders in ethnic dress when the opportunity crops up, and it’s always painted in a pro-multicultural light. Or our ministers are shown admiring ethnic attire worn by the host country’s locals. My mum always laughs at our ministers wearing the costumes, though, saying they look “silly”.
Like you, I’m not too well-versed in the black face issue, other than that it’s offensive to quite a number of dark-skinned people. But you’re right – it’s a form of cultural caricature. And for most, it isn’t a pleasant experience and it must have been horrible for you to be picked upon because of your heritage by the game show hosts.
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People get offended very readily these days, sometimes genuinely and sometimes fakery. Someone, may be of mixed marriage, and have multiple different blood lines. You may be at a ceremony and invited to wear costume. I think the important words are CONTEXT and RESPECT.
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Yeah, it seems that people are always quick to feel angry or insulted when it comes to the issues of ethnicity and race. If I were at a ceremony and invited to wear a costume, I’d say yes because it would be a good way to engage with the culture and its traditions. Saying no might offend the host. Yes – context and respect are the key things we need to keep in mind. I would also throw appreciation and tolerance into the mix.
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Great post…and like you lead to in your post, respect is important. When I travel to new places, I really like to wear the traditional clothing in the places I am visiting. Generally, when I am in a new place, I spend a lot of time fascinated by the culture and the people and usually there is an occasion to wear the local attire (i.e., the Longyi in Myanmar…Kilt in Scotland), and I love it. The people I’m with like it and it does make me more curious about the culture.
As long as their is interest and respect, then in a way it is a form of flattery toward the culture of the dress. And learning more about a culture with action (via food or dress) is a lot more interesting than sitting in a classroom or reading a textbook 🙂
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Thanks, Randall. You’re so right in that it’s so much more fascinating learning about other cultures through action. Cultural attire, food, song, dance, craft, writing…not only do we put ourselves in the shoes of someone of another culture, there’s every chance these actions are done in a group setting with people from different backgrounds and we’ll have the opportunities to interact and learn about their cultures straight from the horse’s mouth.
Rarely do I hear people trying on traditional clothing of the countries they are visiting. Yes, as you mention, there is always an occasion to wear the local attire. Sometimes locals wear traditional attire when going to temples, that’s one such occasion. National cultural celebrations are another one – and in Asian countries, cultural celebrations happen quite often given the diversity of races here.
Very heartening to hear you try on traditional clothing in a respectful context – such a positive attitude to other cultures and their attire. This is what we need more of in today. It’s funny how a lot of negativity surrounds this topic but so far all the comments on this post have been positive 🙂
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It is strange how people do see it as negative (and in a way I can understand why people think this way ~ we are living in a too “PC” society, which causes people to care too much and jump to poor conclusions). In Myanmar earlier this year, I wore a Longji (like a sarong) and it was great… People there took it for what it was, an attempt at embracing and understanding their culture further.
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The negativity towards traditional cultural attire seems to come and stem from many Western countries. In Asia, you can be Chinese and wear Indian clothing or in your case, a Westerner wearing Longji, and locals usually accept this and think you’re getting into the spirit of their culture. Which is heartening to see. Some Westerners seem to be ignorant about how to wear and respect other cultures and their attire. Can’t really blame them. Then there are also rather vocal minorities – as you imply – quick to jump to conclusions that their culture is being stereotyped. I don’t know why some of us don’t like thinking of converse explanations for such situations.
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Very true, I had more than one Westerner roll their eyes at the Longyi…but then the majority of them are pretty excited and want to do the same. Always a few bad apples, but best to ignore them 🙂
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I agree with Jen. I’m American by birth but European by ancestry. I don’t belong in the headdress of a Native American. Other than Pilgrims’ suits, which don’t count, I don’t have any cultural dress. I love the cultural dress of other countries and don’t mind at all when others show theirs off.
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So nice of you to say that, Jess. I too like it when people show off their cultural attire, or if some of us wear another culture’s traditional attire in a respectful manner. I don’t see anything wrong with both scenarios. These scenes are a reminder that we should all learn to appreciate and celebrate difference around us 🙂
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Very nice! Great, thought provoking post. I’ve had particular confusion dealing with just such a topic. Like Jessica said, I am American by birth but I identify strongly with my Finnish Sami and French-Canadian Indian heritage. I’ve dressed up in traditional Sami clothing plenty of times with no qualms. But outside my culture was something new. It was my first Obon in Japan and I was told I should wear a Jinbei with Geta. I had a real hard time feeling comfortable going out in it. The great thing is that everyone was so friendly and accepting. It didn’t take long at all to feel comfortable in it.
Thanks for this great topic! Have a wonderful day!
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Thanks, Matt. Always a pleasure hearing from you. I think one of the reasons why we feel uncomfortable when we wear an ethnic costume outside of our culture is because of its material. A lot of these clothing are made out of soft, smooth material, sometimes silk and we usually don’t wear clothes made of of them every day when we go to work or school. Another reason could be because we have innate fear that we will be judged negatively doing something we’re not familiar with – hey, we could get it all wrong and be a laughing stock.
But there’s nothing wrong with trying something new. So glad to hear that you’ve tried on a few cultural costumes before in great spirit. And when you have fun with such attire, I’m sure people will be supportive – as in your case 🙂
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Sometimes I see photos of Australians (which I don’t know how that trend started) and Americans having “Mexican” parties (examples from thisisnotlatino.tumblr.com). I have seen some in real life which I would rather not. They would draw moustaches, wear big sombreros, act drunk. The scene is like a fret party thinking they’re cute. They would say, “I look so Mexican.” “I am not legal.” As somebody with Mexican heritage, I think to myself, “I can see you haven’t been to a Mexican party.” I am not offended. I just find it in poor taste. Unless, you are actually invited to a Mexican party by a Mexican (or somebody embraces his or her Mexican heritage), the so-called Mexican parties tend to be in very poor taste.
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Frat party. That’s a very apt way of describing such costumes parties that can rub some off the wrong way. Wow, you don’t feel offended. I think that’s great because I can’t really think what good can come out of feeling offended towards seeing those people in images. “Poor taste” is a very good way to put it 🙂 Pardon my ignorance, but I don’t think a real Mexican party would involve dressing up as a native Mexican. Rather, it would be more about appreciating Mexican cuisine and talking about Mexican culture.
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You’re right. Mexican parties is not about dressing as a stereotype of what a Mexican looks like but apparently, non-Mexicans didn’t get the memo. xD
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I wonder when some of us will get it. No reason why we all can’t have a Mexican party, or any other cultural party, dressed up respectfully in ethnic attire and enjoy ethnic food. Food xD
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I have 2 dressy tops with high mandarin collar. Haven’t 1 of them for a long time. I might for a newer one of the 2. I bike to work, so I have to be extra careful not to crumple the top.
1 of my sisters, had her wedding dress made as a white long cheong-sam. She looked good. 2 of my sisters chose their going away dress as a red cheong-sam. Nothing new. By the way, all of us born in Canada. There’s something special to wear a modified ancestral/family cultural garment on a key life-changing event.
I don’t have a problem if a white person wears a sari….if they have lived in India or are married to someone East Indian. It’s very different when there is interracial marriages/mixed family members.
But I don’t pretend I could wear a sari and feel great about it as streetwear. It’s not my ancestral costume…
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Come to think of it, many of the cultural costumes out there are made out of delicate material (e.g. silk) and if we’re wearing them we definitely shouldn’t be moving around too much or risk ripping them. As you’ve described in your siblings’ weddings, I’ve always wondered why we wear ancestral garment on monumental occasions. Maybe it’s because these costumes are symbolic of time, of history. We always hear the phrase “don’t forget the past” or “don’t forget our roots” because that’s what shape who we are in some ways. Maybe wearing (our own) cultural costumes is a marker of time and serves as a reminder that we all come from somewhere. Sorry if this sounds confusing. Sometimes it’s a bit hard for me to express my thoughts and feelings into words 🙂
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Great article.
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Thanks, Olivia. Appreciate your nice words.
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Well Halloween is coming up and I’m starting to look at costumes. I have a turban/fez hat that I bought at a renaissance faire this summer (not very renaissance but the hat called to me) and so I thought about how I could incorporate this rather expensive hat into a costume for Halloween. The only thing that kind of makes sense for a hat like mine is a Maharajah or a Sultan. Basically some sort of Indian or Arabian nobility. Then I thought about it as I’ll have to wear whatever costume I choose to work on Halloween. Since it’ll be a cultural costume, might it offend some people since I’m as pale and European as they get? That’s when I came across this article.
Basically, to pull this costume off, I need to have Indian clothing, and it needs to be rather nice looking. Nobility doesn’t wear just anything, after all. So, I stumbled on a website with Indian wedding clothing on it. Beautiful jackets made of brocade in rich maroon and gold colors. It’d make a wonderful costume. But then you come across campaigns like “We’re a culture, not a costume”. Halloween costumes are often meant to be fun. I’m probably not going to wear my Maharajah costume any other time of the year, but I think I’ll definitely have fun with it as it’s very out of the ordinary for me and that’s what Halloween is all about these days. I don’t think my fun will be offensive.
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Halloween is indeed coming up. It’s this Friday, in fact. Sounds like you have put a lot of thought into your costume for Halloween. “Halloween costumes are often meant to be fun”. Though we don’t celebrate Halloween in Australia, I have to agree with your sentiment here – celebrations and festivals are meant to be upbeat and a time for people to get together and enjoy themselves.
Wearing a traditional costume in the way that it is usually worn is a mark of respect for that culture. Chances are you’re putting in thought to why cultures wear this costume, why the costume is the made the way it is, and so on.
That Maharajah costume of yours sounds fantastic. I haven’t seen many people wearing them actually. I don’t think it’s a go-to costume for Halloween either (I might be totally wrong on this, so correct me if I’m wrong). Wearing the costume could spark a conversation about Indian clothing or Indian culture in general.
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I just ran across your post and wanted to add my $0.02.
For me, wearing dress from another culture involves the following considerations:
1. Does it have a specific meaning to the culture in question? In the case of a Native American Plains feather headdress, it has both religious and social meaning. As a woman, traditionally I would not wear one at all and even men who would be allowed to wear it would only do so if they earned it following specific criteria, just as someone who claims a PhD must earn one. Therefore, to me, it would be inappropriate to wear something like this.
2. How are you wearing it? If I wanted to wear a sari, I would need to learn to wrap it appropriately. I would not play around with it by, say, skipping the blouse and wearing just a bra underneath. Nor would I wear, say, a “Sexy Native American” outfit. I feel that wearing someone else’s culture as a Halloween costume frequently does not pass that test. There are ways to do it respectfully, but I rarely see those. Mostly there are a lot of cheap “sexy” versions.
3. Where am I wearing it? I own a cheongsam which I love and wear to formal events. I wouldn’t wear it grocery shopping because I’d look fairly silly doing so in silk brocade and it would probably get ruined in the process. I wouldn’t wear it to a Halloween party because it just doesn’t feel appropriate- too costume-like.
4. How am I behaving in it? I belly dance and when we perform, we are required to wear coverups when we aren’t onstage or backstage. We are also not allowed to drink alcohol in public at these events while in costume. Our school wants us to respect the cultures the dances come from and have us present ourselves in a dignified and appropriate fashion. When I wear my cheongsam, I feel a little more formal than I do in jeans or Western dress and behave accordingly. I wouldn’t go out and get drunk and silly in it.
Someone else mentioned black face. In the US, it’s seen quite strongly as racist due to the long and horrible history of slavery. It’s also been used to promote stereotypes, especially the belief that black people are somehow inferior because of the caricaturization involved in such shows. I would strongly discourage anyone from wearing it.
I seem to have written my own essay here! 🙂
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Thanks so much for reading and reflection. I love the questions you brought up, they really do put wearing cultural attire into context. Where you mention no drinking alcohol while wearing certain attires is a good observation as in some cultures, consuming this is a no-no.
Some might thinking “sexing up” a cultural dress is okay since cultural appropriation is everywhere these days. However, I do think by making a costume more edgy in certain ways is plain ignorance towards the significance of the costume and it is us showing disrespect for the other culture. There’s a fine line between this, I reckon.
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Hi Mabel,
In my search to find information/advice I came across your post, I found it very interesting and thought provoking. My quest was to help me decide if my halloween costume was offensive. Although part of me says that if I have to ask the question than perhaps I have my answer. I was given a cotton kimono a few years ago, I think someone made it themselves so not authentic. I have a wig which is fashioned in a japanese style, not exactly Geisha. I have made a belt out of scarves and a wrap belt, again not authentic. I would never wear this as an insult, when I think of Japanese culture I am in awe and it would only be my attempt at expressing how much I love it. But could this be offensive without intending? Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse.
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Sometimes it can be hard for us to replicate a cultural outfit completely, be it for money reasons or the fact that some parts of the outfit are hard to find. And because of these reasons, we make tweaks to the outfit – we might use another piece of garment that looks similar to suit our attire or even ditch a certain layer of the outfit. In other words, we try out best appreciate and fashion the costume to the best of our abilities – respectfully.
I reckon if we aren’t being insulting wearing a cultural attire, we’ll make the effort to learn about the significance of the outfit and the culture – and be able to proudly explain that to someone next to us.
You’ve lucky to have a cotton kimono, those aren’t cheap. Sounds like you simply want to wear the kimono and share your love for Japanese culture, and spread the word about how great the culture is. Why not if it’s all in good spirit.
All of us have different perceptions and come from different backgrounds, so we are each offended by different things. That is, offence is a matter of perception.
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I think it is perfectly fine for people to wear different culture’s attire, unless it is intentionally done to mock said culture. But there are probably very many people out there who would take offence, people who are very protective of their culture and people who are very sensitive.
If we want to be strict about not dressing cross culturally, well, the suit and tie are western attire. T-shirt and jeans are western attire. Us Asians might a well not wear them, if we are pissed that Australian or American girls wear the cheongsam.
Take the picture you shared as an example, To me, I’m fine if they’re wearing it because they think it is nice and unique. I would be peeved if they wear the attire, put on the sunglasses, and then does a R&B rendition claiming it to be a Sri Lanka performance.
The only cross cultural dress up that I will not agree to is when it comes to sports. An Arsenal fan shall never wear a Liverpool or Manchester United football jersey, or there will be hell to pay! 😀
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I often wonder what goes on in those minds who wear a cultural attire to mock another culture.
You are right in saying there are people out there who are protective of their culture. A lot of the time certain attires are associated with certain festivals or traditions, so wearing them outside of these occasions might come across as offensive.
For your information, the band in the photo were playing their own music. I did notice they took off the costumes in between sets. I don’t think the people watching noticed the costumes.
Football jerseys. An interesting twist to this conversation. As a Liverpool fan, the only football or soccer jersey I’ll wear is the Liverpool one for sure 😀
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Very interesting observation. Culture, dress, customs and fashion are so much part of different part of society…it has so many manifestations. Some we like it and some we may not. But each such function, party have so many things to offer and share…the picture says it all.
😀
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You are so right in saying that dress and fashion has so many manifestations, something I will touch on in an upcoming post. The line between wearing cultural attire tastefully and wearing it mockingly is blurred. I suppose so long as we know a bit of the attire, where it’s from and it’s significance, then we are wearing it in good taste. Pictures says it all? Well, a picture says a thousand words, Nihar 😀
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So true, it is just not about the fashion…it is in the culture and tradition. The location, the history, the climatic conditions and so many aspects of living and thinking governs the wearing and choice of dresses. Some for pure convenience, some for comfort and some for beauty and yes, it all counts and it is so interesting to observe and understand the significance…pictures speaks a lot…
Looking forward to your next post…
😀
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Ah, you opened up a can of worms when you say “…the location, the history, the climatic conditions…” governs aspects of living. Most of the time there is a functionality aspect behind each piece of clothing we wear. No matter how fashionable they may seem, if we feel uncomfortable wearing it, we might not wear it again…unless we are someone who prides fashion over comfort…
I’ve always found India’s costumes fascinating. So much colour, and each colour has a different meaning in line with parts of the country’s history and culture, if I’m not mistaken.
I’m planning a beauty and fashion series in the month of May. Hope you stop by then 😀
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That’s wonderful Mabel…a beauty and fashion series, my best wishes are always with you.
Indeed, the clothes and colour is so diverse and so different in India because of the geographical spread from North to South and from the East to West…it is a country within country, one end of east is close to Bhutan and dressing is different from the Kashmir where it is close to Pakistan and being in Himalayan range, the culture is based on the extreme climatic condition.
Yes, what matters is the comfort of wearing a dress rather than being just fashionable, a perfect combination is what a good fashion designer brings onto the table…
Definitely I will stop by, in fact keenly looking forward to it…
cheers!!!
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So interesting to hear of the diversity of dress in India. “…country within country…” So true. Then there’s also attire for adults, and attire for children. Male and female. Also, though fashion is forever evolving, it’s amazing how so many traditional costumes are still the way they are compared to a hundred years ago.
Thank you, Nihar. I’m looking forward to thinking about and writing the upcoming fashion and beauty posts 🙂
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All the best for the fashion and beauty post…I am keenly looking forward to the post. It will definitely come out brilliantly.
Fashion is a passion and so many aspects and facets to discuss and dissect…it is all about creation and imagination. It is always fun and exciting to be fashionable with purpose and elegance.
😀
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There will be three posts on fashion and beauty, certainly more than enough. “Fashion is a passion…all about creation…” Now you’ve got me thinking of those topics in another way. Thank you, Nihar 🙂
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Looking forward…
😀
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I always like looking at the beautiful costumes, so full of colour. Culture and beliefs never interested me though. To me it’s the person that matters. 😀
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Very good observation. Costumes are always so full of colour. How can we not be attracted to them and learn more about them or the people wearing them 😀 I think many of us wear cultural costumes in good taste.
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I agree and I do love beautiful colours and the good people inside them make them just as beautiful. 😀
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“the good people inside them make them just as beautiful” A wonderful phrase. I think for the most part, most of us wear cultural costumes not only because we are interested in a different kind of fashion and style, but because we want to get closer to another culture and appreciate it.
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I see this scene as being hippie.
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Interesting take on this scene. That never crossed my mind. But now that you mention it, why didn’t I. There are quite a number of hippie suburbs – or hipster suburbs – in Melbourne.
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Do you have hippie suburbs, hipster suburbs or both?
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I like that picture, that one reminded me about Hong Kong
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Thank you, Seneng. That is an interesting connection, that this photo in the post reminds you about Hong Kong. I just see it as very Melbourne. I would love to visit that city someday.
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I think for those South Asians wearing sunglasses, it’s not a terrible thing. I’m sure they wear (and should) sunglasses in those countries. Have to protect your eyes outdoors. At a ceremony, no.
It possible to wear another culture’s costume, it it’s tastefully worn in traditional spirit and without out facepaint. I would tend to go without the facepaint and makeup stuff.
I went to a traditional Christian-Caucasian wedding where the sister-in-law of bride wanted to wear a sari. So she did. (Bride and groom were incredibly generous about this.) There was absolutely no connection to South Asian roots or stays from the groom’s family. So in that type of situation, I would tend to question…it’s just someone wanting to draw unnecessary attention from the day’s stars: bride and groom.
I have a contemporary dressy top with a Mandarin collar which I did swear to work for a few years with dress pants. I just thought it was an elegant top and I felt it whenever I wore it. I did work for several employers that had a business dress code.
I also have a contemporary different top with Mandarin collar with side frog buttons that is dressy top. I haven’t worn it yet but it probably is something I could wear very well. It would get easily wrinkled in my bike pannier. Honest, being Asian-face, you can wear any of those East Asian cultural costumes with respect and get away in spades, even if we can’t speak the language. I wouldn’t feel guilty…’cause roots are Chinese after all. And it wouldn’t be tough to wear something like that with elegance and grace. Those latter 2 words are key for any cultural costume…except maybe the Mardi Gras.
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Many thoughts there, Jean. Much food for thought. To be very honest, I don’t recall seeing many South East Asians wearing sunglasses compared to people here in Australia. Could be many reasons for this.
Interesting story there about someone wearing a sari to a non-Indian wedding. I’m guessing she was the only one dressed like that. Agree with you on drawing attention to herself. Or maybe she really wanted to bring the sari from the back of the closet.
To be honest, unless you’re working in an international travel agency or Asian restaurant in Australia, I can’t think of a workplace that will allow you to wear the pieces of clothing you describe – and they sound very lovely.
Being Asian face we can get away with wearing East Asian costumes. I like that thought. Asian solidarity, interest in our other fellow Asian’s cultures.
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Mabel I know very little on this subject and have never dressed in traditional costume of another culture. I understand that if one is invited to some cultures celebrations such as a wedding then one is to wear the appropriate attire. I think I would be looking for guidance and being certain not to offend.
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Very polite and respectful of you Sue to be cautious about wearing another culture’s traditional attire. In each culture, there are different kinds of cultural attire too so that can make it more confusing. Always tricky to find attire for a wedding. For weddings and fancy dinners, I tend to keep it simple with black, non-jeans pants and a nice top.
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Sounds like a safe and respectful choice of attire Mabel. I usually wear a dress but it can be a riskier choice of what fits in best.
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Quite true, since you might always be wondering if your dress is too low cut and how many eyeballs will it draw…I mean, if it’s conservative enough 😀
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I am chuckling away Mabel as this is not usually an issue for me and my build but I definitely understand what you mean. 🙂
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Quite a number of Asian cultural attire doesn’t ‘t reveal much skin. Not only do we need to be concerned with cleavage wearing dresses to formal functions, but maybe whether we’re covered up or not overall 🙂
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So interesting, Mabel! (As are all your posts.)
You made me recall a time way back in high school (almost 60 years ago!) when we had an Indian exchange student, a rare occurrence in those days. She was very open and friendly. One day she gathered a group of us and brought out a sari and had each of us try it on. A revelation. How can one possibly understand anything about being a woman in India without trying one on a sari? It was so much work, so much fabric — but then we looked so glamorous, even the lumpier ones among us. What people wear both reflects the values of their culture and enforces them.
This was brought home when I went to Japan with my (Japanese) friend. I lived in homes, slept on the floor, the works — the only way I would have had it, and that my dream came true was a miracle to me. Well, of course, one day she had me try on her girlhood “good” kimono. The wrapping and the inserting, the tying and the fussing, the little steps that were the only things possible — Once again, a full understanding of what it is to be a Japanese woman of necessity includes trying on a kimono.
My opinion, of course, but I feel really REALLY strongly about this.
In America there is a saying, attributed (although not necessarily really from) Native American culture. It is to the effect that, in order to truly understand someone, one must walk a mile in his or her moccasins. Exactly!
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You certainly have come across many interesting friends from different backgrounds! What a good sport of your Indian exchange student classmate to bring her sari to class back then, and you all tried it on. I don’t think it’s common for students to bring their cultural costumes to school in Australia unless it’s for show-and-tell or some multicultural event.
You are right in saying that it’s hard to wear certain cultural attire. When I was a kid, the teachers helped me to wear the sari. Maybe that puts people off wearing these kinds of dress on an everyday basis, I don’t know.
We don’t really know much about Native American culture in Australia. But it does sound like it has it’s roots in American culture, and is significant on many levels.
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An interesting topic as always Mabel. As a kid I remember longing for a cowgirl outfit to emulate Dale Evans (did you have Roy Rogers over there??) but I got an Indian outfit instead. I was SERIOUSLY disappointed! But dressing up in odd garb is so popular here on Halloween, and more so every year. I remember one year my parents had a Halloween party and one couple came as a great white hunter in a huge pot and his wife was dressed as a cannibal. I was very impressed with that one! Since then we’ve become much more culturally sensitive, which is a good thing, but I do believe we may have gone a bit far the other way. Being white tho, I’ve never been on the other side of racial insensitivity so I can appreciate how offensive it would be if done any way other than respectfully.
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Never heard of Dale Evans or Roy Rogers. Googled them and so they are cowboys. Very cool. If I’m not mistaken, there are cowboys and cowgirls in certain parts of the Australian outback. But this is something many of us associate with American culture.
Good to hear you enjoy dressing up for Halloween. All of you are very sporting and I’m sure most of the time everyone doesn’t to so to spite another culture, but to celebrate it. Many draw the line at colouring their faces another colour.
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I like how you delve into such topics, giving us a food for thought. You write so well, with all your research done and addressing even the smallest of details in your posts. I wear our traditional clothes all the time. I do think to some extent people tend to be over-sensitive about things these days. I don’t think there is any harm in shaking up things a little and trying out different ways to wear traditional clothes.
But yeah like other commentators said, it’s another thing to be totally insensitive about other cultural values and norms, we do need to respect them too. There have to be some boundaries, one must not go too over board… 🙂
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What a nice thing to say, especially “all your research done and addressing even the smallest of details in your posts”. Sometimes I sit and stare at my blog drafts for one hour, thinking I am not including enough interesting ideas.
So good to hear people in Pakistan like you wear your traditional clothing proudly. I suppose people can be (overly) sensitive because some things about their culture are sacred, and if taken the wrong way they might think the powers above might get offended. Or there might be a misunderstanding about a part of their culture.
Neverthess, it’s always good to try different cultural attire. The way the attire is fashioned and created does tell us quite a bit about our culture 🙂
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Well you don’t ever worry about not putting enough information in your blog posts, because you always give it you all ! 🙂
And absolutely, traditional attires give us a sense of belonging to somewhere, keep us attached to our roots too. Great post Mabel as always ! ❤
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“traditional attires give us a sense of belonging to somewhere” Spot on, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Traditional attire usually reminds us of the cultural celebrations we celebrate and proudly show off our cultural attire. You’re so kind, Zee!
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This is an interesting debate! I don’t even know if I have cultural costumes, should check my old wardrobe!
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Thank you, Lily. You never know, you might have a cultural costume tucked away in your closet somewhere. Sadly, I don’t have mine anymore, all donated when I left Malaysia.
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Like you said, I also think most people wear such costumes with no ill intention and just want a bit of harmless fun. It’s a bit sad that some people are so sensitive about their culture, but maybe I can’t really understand the feeling since we don’t have tradictionnal costumes in Belgium. So… maybe I would have another opinion if it was the case. Thanks for sharing this topic, that was really interesting !
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I think some people are sensitive about their culture because some parts of it are sacred, and maybe they are afraid that the powers that be they believe in will be insulted. At the end of the day, I reckon most of us really just want to be more acquainted with a culture through wearing cultural attire. Interesting to hear there aren’t traditional costumes in Belgium!
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Yes, in a way I can understand that, it makes sense. We don’t always know the history behind a costume.
Hmm maybe there are some costumes, but it’s not really well advertized haha !
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True. And even if we know the history behind a costume, we might not know the significance of a costume. Those are two different things. Maybe one day I’ll go to Belgium, and then I’ll notice the cultural attire there!
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haha, yeah, maybe ! That would be interesting 😀 😀
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😀
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I think it has a lot to do with the attitude of the wearer. One of my pet peeves is wanna-be native Americans usually attired in poor quality Inauthentic commercial costumes. I think that an American should only wear native attire when with native Americans and on occasion where is your show respect rather then a poor parody. Beyond the fact of the genocide of Native American people by colonials, the people who immigrated here utilized parts of native costumes for deliberate mockery especially in films. For some Europeans to dress as a druid is different in the fact that they may be celebrating their own ancestry. In this sense Americans of various ethnic backgrounds appropriately wear costumes related to their cultural origins.
I enjoy seeing issues like this raised because I think we should always Think about respect and frequently don’t.
Good post,
Alex
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“a poor parody” That is a good way to describe some who wear traditional cultural attire with the intention to mock a cultural group. And an interesting take on when we should wear native American dress. Wearing Native American attire beside a Native American – same goes for other cultures – is wise since we might then be inclined to respect their culture. If not, then we look tacky doing so.
Thanks, Alex, for the encouraging words. I still have not forgotten your suggestion – writing about Christmas and the festive season. When the time is right, there will be a post about it 🙂
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Ooops, I missed reading this one… I think now these days, people just want to be comfy, light fabric, mixed colors, informal styles… I think it’s great. 🙂
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Haha, this was a post from the archives. Thought I’d resurrect it since I’m not posting lately. Certainly agree that these days we want clothing and fabric that feels good on our skin. Sometimes new clothes take getting use to. As for mixed colours and quirky styles? I’ve got a post on that coming up in a couple of months 🙂 Thanks for stopping by as always, Amy.
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I look forward to your regarding the trendy clothes. 🙂 I like the new light fabric and comfy designed styles, not the quirky styles for youngsters though. H&M has a lot of choices 😀 Always enjoy reading your articles, Mabel. But, this one didn’t come to my Reader.
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I like H&M a lot, love their jeans that come in tiny sizes that fit me 😀 Agree with you, light fabric feels good on the body, giving room for us and our body to breeze – and we move around better.
Pretty sure featuring an archived post like this one and bringing it back to life doesn’t send it to the Reader. Also, I don’t think I was following your blog or the other way round a year ago when this post came out 😉
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Great article! In Norway we just use our traditional costumes for celebrations. However, the last years I have been living in Bolivia and here many of the women use them everyday. Before the indigenous president they have today, these women were spit on and treated very bad. Now it is okey to use it. However, if they travel abroad they do not use it, as they know people will look weird on them.
I have been using this costume one time. I have also used saree in India and Sri Lanka, and my impression is that the locals love that we use it. And it is not used in any racistic way, it is because is so beautiful. And I know that we Norwegians love as well when foreigners use our traditional costumes! 🙂
But I love this discussion you have started, because everyone feels differently about this issue.
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It’s so great to hear that you are so open to wearing another culture’s costume and want to wear it right. The saree must have been challenging to put on at first. I remember I had to get my teacher to literally put the costume on for me!
I’ve never heard of Bolivia’s costume before, I will have to google that. Quite understandable why some of us don’t want to wear our cultural attire when we’re abroad – it could be a sign that screams tourist and we would not want to risk being a target for local criminals. Thank you for stopping by, you have a great blog!
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Thanks! I really like your blog as well! And will for sure come back again. I like that you also rise questions about the not so obvious.
I could not put on the saree neither. I needed help the first times. Now, I can do it myself, but it is not so nice. Hahaha…
The bolivian costume is very interessting. The name of the traditional women using it are called Cholitas, and you should google it 🙂 It is not as beautiful, but I really respect the ones that still use it on a daily basis. It is not many countries that have kept their traditions this well 🙂
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It’s funny you say I raise questions about the not so obvious. A lot of the time I think I’m writing things that are too obvious 😀 Then again, I always remember we each have different perspectives.
Wrapping the saree around you is hard, because if you wrap one part the wrong way, you literally have to take it off and start again 😀 I googled Cholitas. It’s beautiful! That’s quite a puffed out skirt with the costume, not sure if it’s practical to wear it on public transport, though 🙂
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As long as the dress-up is in good taste and respectful, it shouldn’t be a problem. If the dress-up is for a laugh or for mockery, then that’s when it has crossed the line.
Sunglasses with cultural clothes is fine in our eyes – we still need to protect our eyes from the sun, no matter what our cultural backgrounds are 🙂
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Good distinction there, Wise Monkeys. It’s easy to tell when a costume is worn for laughs or mockery – when someone has painted their face a certain colour and the wearer pokes fun or demeans cultural stereotypes. It’s in good taste when we wear the full attire as it’s supposed to be and try not to make a big deal about it.
I like your argument on sunglasses and cultural costumes 🙂
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Wearing cultural clothing means a lot, particularly in cultures where things are politically sensitive. There is also the question of WHO can use or have the right to develop cultural costumes – if you are not native, does that allow you to make changes? Does things mean that culture can stand still then?
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“If you are not native, does that allow you to make changes?” What a good question about cultural attire. If you ask this question in the context of food, the answer is almost an emphatic yes.
Speaking of politics, I do notice a number of politicians wearing cultural attire of another country when visiting that country. Wonder what the motive behind this is usually.
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Wonderful photo, Mabel. Colorful and vibrant. I think cultural attire separates people in the way it makes them stand out. That’s the other side of it. =)
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Thanks, D. I like this colourful photo too. That is the city of Melbourne, colourful, vibrant and uplifting as always.
You are so right. Cultural attire separates and makes us stand out. All the more reason for us to notice another culture and be mesmerised by it.
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“All the more reason for us to notice another culture and be mesmerised by it.” Right. It’s up to us how we respond to the one who’s so different (back to the Race series).
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Can never forget your Race series, D. It’s one of a kind. Difference is so intriguing and eye-opening. Might as well embrace it, be it through words, sound, decorations, fashion, clothes and so on.
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The series existed because not everyone embraces it as you do.
Have a wonderful evening, my friend.
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I don’t know how I missed this post! (But maybe that’s the week I was traveling) Now I’m wondering what my traditional costume would even BE — makes me think that we Americans of mixed-European descent are sadly deprived of colorful traditions.
That said, I do remember fashions that drew on other culture’s details, things that came and went, like the “Nehru jackets” men wore for a while.
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I posted this post about a year ago…probably when we haven’t discovered each other’s blogs yet. Since I’m not blogging for a while, thought I’d dig it up from the archives 🙂
Very interesting to hear your background. Maybe you have two or more cultural attire to be proud off, say something from the American side and something from the European side.
I googled Nehru jackets. They look like vests you’d wear to a dinner party, sort of like a blazer too.
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you can wear what you want where ever you want and when ever you want,
you’ll gonna be freak gig then, lol
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LOL, Dedy. Another hilarious comment from you. It’s true. There is no rule or law saying we can’t wear what we want whenever we want…unless it’s our birthday suit.
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Wiosenne pozdrowienia z Warszawy
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Thank you, Marko. It’s autumn here in Melbourne, Australia. The weather’s cooling down. Happy Spring to you, enjoy the warmer weather coming your way and dress appropriately.
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Hi Mabel, loved reading your post today. A very thought provoking piece. I love wearing saree .It is fast losing its popularity and is now worn on special occasions only,If you wear a saree on a normal day people might come and wish you ‘ happy anniversary’. 🙂 It has happened to me 😉
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That’s really is sad that the saree is going out of fashion where you live. I had no idea people would come up to you and wish you well when you’re wearing it – they must think that you’re the bride at a wedding or celebrating an anniversary, as in your case. Hopefully this will change.
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I have never worn traditional cultural clothing, Mabel. It was interesting to read your thoughts and you are right that seeing the clothes can be conversation starters. I enjoy learning about cultures and so it would be a lead into a conversation for me. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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Thank you, Christy. Maybe one day you’ll get a chance to wear some sort of traditional attire. This just crossed my mind, but perhaps some women avoid wearing cultural clothing because they want to break stereotypes and comes across as progressive. Food for thought!
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what great post MK – and I actually was reading a few comments and like how you said this
” I think most people wear such costumes with no ill intention and just want a bit of harmless fun while showing appreciation for other cultures…”
—- when I see saris I think I will think of this post and always remember that “bright colours are auspicious….”
🙂
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Oh yes. I think a lot of us like to wear cultural costumes just to get a feel of another culture, physically and emotionally. I mean, physically in the sense that you put on a culture on you and when you do that, you might feel something wearing a part of someone else’s culture…if you get me. Gah, my feelings aren’t translating into words tonight!
Thanks, Y, for the very nice words. And for thinking of my post. I am touched 🙂 💕
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well I did get what you were saying… 🙂 and hope you have a nice week –
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not sure if my other comment made it (might have disappeared) but I REALLY annoyed this post….
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It seemed you annoyed my Spam Folder. I think you came at a time when it was hungry. But I managed to save it, unlike some of the other unlucky ones
😭
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ha! and I hope your book writing is going well… 🙂
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Such an interesting topic Mabel, but I just realised that the response I posted last week hasn’t actually shown up on the comments feed. I’ve forgotten most of what I said now and I feel I’ve missed the moment. 😦
Just wanted you to know that I was here and appreciative & generally agree it’s about context and respect, as one of the other comments said.
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I am so sorry about that, Maamej. Not too sure how your comment slipped away and not sure how I missed it in the spam folder. My sincere apologies for that 😦
Thank you for being so supportive. There’s certainly always a time and place to wear cultural attire.
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It’s been long long time ago I wore Indonesian traditional outfit. I wore Javanese kebaya batik during a postgraduate ceremony in the Netherlands. Nowadays, I don’t use the outfit anymore – too much work 😀 But I think it is nice to wear our traditional outfit when attending special occasion. Maamej is right, it is about context and as well respect 🙂
Great article Mabel!
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The Indonesian batik sounds lovely. I am sure you looked very pretty in it at your graduation (belated congratulations!). It sounds a bit hard to put on, and I’m sure it’s delicate and you have to wash it carefully too, like most traditional cultural attire. Thank you, Indah!
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My son is doing a school project where he researched ancestry and has to wear an outfit representing who he researched. He did an ancestor from English occupied India who is mixed race (English, Indian, Malasian, and Portuguese). I am having trouble finding a proper costume and I do think a turban may be to much given its religious significance for Sikhs.
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That is a very interesting choice of person he chose to be for his school project. Getting together the costume together sounds challenging, good luck with that. He might not want to wear a turban if he decides, but he can always mention it in passing when talking about his outfit and the culture/person he’s dressed up as.
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I think it’s only wrong when it gets stereotypical. Like, I think it’s ok when people dress as AUTHENTIC Qing Dynasty Mandarins, but the line is crossed when they begin wearing those “Chinaman” costumes you see on Amazon.
As a mostly Viet person who also has a bit of Thai, Khmer, Chinese, French and Irish, I’ve observed many traditional clothing of Asia, and sometimes, you may need to substitute one clothing with another. I.E Substituting an Ao Gam with a Tangzhuang or a Manarin Collar Kurta, since some clothing is harder to get than others.
Another example is on one halloween when I used a Qing Dynasty robe (Not a Tangzhuang, but kind of like Hanfu but with narrow sleeves and kind of jacket style) with a red sash and a Korean Samo hat as a makeshift Nguyen Dynasty Mandarin costume. I really love traditional clothing, as I find it way better looking than western suit and tie.
If you are going to wear a costume of another culture, go by this philosophy. Be a Charlie Chan, not a Fu Manchu. Basically, represent the culture in a positive way, not a negative way. That means no Chinese skullcaps with the attached pony tail and Fu Manchu, no “Chief Joseph” costumes, nor those fake “Geisha” costumes that look more like desperate Oiran costumes. But rather, try an authentic Qing Dynasty robe with the Winter Hat and Peacock Feather, a real Native American outfit, and a real Japanese Kimono. Many of which can be found easilly on eBay or Amazon.
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“sometimes, you may need to substitute one clothing with another” That is such a great point. Sometimes it is hard to find a certain culture’s traditional attire if they are not readily available or made where you are. Borrowing another culture’s attire and completing the cultural costume you want to wear is certainly creative – as in your case with the Nguyen Dynasty Mandarin. Cultural appropriation isn’t so much taking place here, but more of bringing out the significance of traditional attire (and cultural appropriation in the context of fashion is a whole other topic altogether…)
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I have no problem with people wearing Philippine attire as long as they do it with respect and not to make our traditional clothes an object of derision. I understand that people may commit some faux fax as a consequence of this borrowing and because of their unfamiliarity with our culture. However, as long as the mistake is done in good faith, I don’t think it’s such a great deal. It can easily be addressed by a polite correction.
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Agreed. It’s perfectly okay to wear another culture’s attire so long as we don’t make a mockery of it. Best we know what it represents and the symbolism behind it. Wearing another culture’s attire is always an opportunity to connect with a culture different from ours.
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Nov. 25, 2015
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I think there are definitely some extremes in situations in some cultures of Asian.
I can understand the significance of wearing the costumes for religious beliefs.
We do see people from India who wear the two piece outfit , that being a woman.
We see women and men wearing the traditional dress from the middle eastern countries . Although the younger generation today wear the fashion trends that everyone wears in the world of fashion
It’s the luxury fashion that attracts younger people and those alike .
People should be given a choice of whether they want to wear a costume or not .
Society is changing and the way we think
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“It’s the luxury fashion that attracts younger people” That is an interesting way to put it. More and more people are certainly emboldened to wear traditional attire of another cultural group these days. So long as they do it in good faith and have no intention of mocking that particular group, then I don’t see anything wrong with that.
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Another fascinating post Mabel. The questions you pose are so forward looking and the insights throw intelligent light on the issue. The idea of keeping cultural traditions alive is so important in our global community and the modern twist on wearing the traditional costume I can see is inevitable with how fashions move so fast. Thank you for this food for thought. I grew up in Wales so wearing a Welsh costume on St David’s day, the patron saint, was normal. I am not sure the costume of a woollen shawl and a frilly blouse is cool enough to wear with jeans around town though!
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A Welsh costume, how interesting a description you make it out to be. I take that it takes after Celtic tradition, which is something I’ve always hope to look into at some point. Like you, I believe tradition still has its place in today’s modern world and one way to showcase that is through cultural attire.
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