Traditional Mexican

costume
 Mexican national clothing is very bright and beautiful. Actually, there are many
different designs of traditional costume. Some of them are used for celebrations
and holidays, some – for ceremonies, some – for festivals. 

 The main characteristics of Mexican national attire are:

1. sun protection (that's why sombrero has such a wide brims and the clothing itself is
made of natural materials),

2. brightness (the fabric for garments is mostly colorful and heavily embroidered; a
lot of colorful ribbons are used),

3. moderate modesty (the clothing is elegant, not shameless or vulgar at all; skirts
are long, blouses are delicate; flowers are often used to beautify the costume,
hairdo and headdress).
 Traditional Mexican
men's costume

 Traditional Mexican men's

costume has changed very little
during centuries. 

 Most of costumes were formed by

mixing the culture of Native
Americans and European people
(mostly Spanish new settlers).
 The most popular and well-known men's
pieces of clothing in Mexico are sarape,
charro suit, sombrero, guayabero, baja
jacket, and poncho.
1. Sarape is a vibrantly colored garment with
a fringe.
2. Charro suit is a special beautifully
embroidered suit which is worn on the Day
of the Dead.
3. Sombrero is a Mexican hat with a wide
brim.
4. Guayabero is a lightweight shirt or suit
which is used both as a casual and formal
dress. 
5. Baja jacket is a Mexican hooded shirt
which is very popular among Mexican and
American youth. 
6. 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.  
Mexican shoes
 Mexican shoes
 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
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.

Traditional women's pieces of clothing
 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

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.
 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.
 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.
 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.

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.
 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.