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Mexican Costume
When talking about Mexico’s clothing or attire, it is the most colorful and attractive attire. Some are utilized for festivities and holidays, while others are used for ceremonies and festivals. The main characteristics of Mexican national attire in which 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.
Let’s dive into the wonder of this attire!
Men's Clothing (Ropa de hombre)
Alright, first of all, when talking about traditional men’s clothing, charro suit,sombrero, guayabera and poncho are the most popular and well-known men's clothing items in Mexico. On the Day of the Dead, a particular finely embroidered outfit known as a charro suit is worn. This item of apparel is the most well-known all over the world. Guayabero is a light shirt or suit that can be worn for both informal and formal occasions.
Guayabera
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According to the first story, "guayabera" is a misspelling of "guayaba," the Spanish word for guava. Do you know the history of Guayabera? According to folklore, a woman living in a hot climate where guavas thrived sewed four pockets on the front of her husband's garments hundreds of years ago. The pouches were designed to retain guavas that the spouse could collect from the trees while working or going about his daily activities.
To add on, typically the Guayabera is worn during the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). The type of guayabera is worn in more of a lavish style rather than normal during the festival.
Source: Amazon, n.d
Source: Official Fiesta, n.d
Charro
What is Charro? Well, a charro or charra outfit or suit is a style of dress originating in Mexico and based on the clothing of a type of horseman, the charro. The style of clothing is often associated with charreada participants, mariachi music performers, Mexican history, and celebrations in festivals. The charro outfit is one that is associated with Mexico around the world and it is seen as a national emblem and a way to express personal pride in Mexican heritage. To add on, Charro outfits can be worn by men or women and have various levels of formality from work-wear to very expensive formal attire. The outfits consist of tight, decorated pants or a long skirt, short jackets, silk ties and are often worn with a wide-brimmed sombrero and other accessories as appropriate.
Besides, according to a resolution made by the National Charro Federation in 1960, different forms of the charro outfit are graded. For instance, the faena, or labour costume, is the least formal. Media gala, gala, grand gala, and etiquette or formal are the next categories. The "gala version" of a charro suit is worn by mariachi singers, and it is often black with silver, while newer mariachis use more colourful clothes. The charro costume is regarded as an emblem of Mexican culture.
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Source: Amazon, n.d
Sombrero
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Next, what is a sombrero? Well, a sombrero is a wide-brimmed hat from Mexico that is used to protect against the sun. It usually features a high-pointed crown, an extra-wide brim that is slightly upturned at the edge in which it is broad enough to cast a shadow across the wearer's head, neck, and shoulders and a chin strap to keep it in place. Sombrero de charro in Mexico ("charro hat") which is referring to the traditional Mexican horsemen. Sombrero is also a Spanish word that refers to any hat with a wide brim.
The sombrero has a long and illustrious history, and it is a vital aspect of Mexican culture. The word sombrero comes from the Spanish word Sombra, which means 'shade.' It has a long history as well, as it was initially worn in the 15th century. The actual origins of the sombrero are unknown; Mongolian riders were known to wear wide-brimmed hats while riding in the 13th century, but it is widely assumed that the sombrero originated in Mexico.
It is this hat that is worn during Jarabe Tapato, or also known as Mexican Hat Dance which is another essential aspect of Mexican culture that features the sombrero. It is also worn by traditional Mexican Mariachi musicians. This is an iconic symbol of Mexican culture by wearing it as part of their outfit.
Women's Clothing (Ropa de mujeres)
Talking about women's traditional Mexican dress, it shows a world of vibrant, intricately designed garments when examined closely. The clothing is fashioned with specially chosen fabrics and embraces vibrant colors, and they are a confluence of European and native characteristics. Strong colour and superb craftsmanship are common themes in Mexican clothing.
Huipil
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A huipil is a sleeveless tunic composed of cotton or wool that has no sleeves. It's usually paired with a skirt. This piece's design is determined by a region's beliefs, marital status, and other factors. Huipil is one of Mexico's most popular women's garments.
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The level of embellishment is the most noticeable distinction between everyday and ceremonial huipils. Despite the fact that the basic principle remains the same, the Huipil's style and decorative nature differ greatly from one indigenous community to the next. Wedding dress huipils for Chinanteca women in Ojitlán, Oaxaca, are divided into three categories: the expensive 'gala' version, the less detailed 'pavo' variation, and the white, less ornate 'pájaros y palomas' huipil. In contrast, Yalaltec huipils are much simpler, whereas Tehuantepec huipils are made of heavy velvet and feature intricately designed floral imagery.
Source: Sam Noble Museum, n.d
Source: Leos Import, n.d
Jalisco Dress
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The most typical Jalisco dress is the one used by folkloric dancers, and also in Mexico's national sport: La Charreria. This dress has variations and is also called Adelita dress, soldadera dress, ranchera dress or escaramuza dress. The version used by folkloric dancers is called Jalisco ribbon dress.
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The evolution of the Jalisco Mexican dress started when people from the countryside stopped their daily activities to attend festivities and religious celebrations. The ranchero dress originated when the locals copied the design of dresses of Spanish women changing the fabric from silk to cotton and making them of lively colours.
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The dress became very popular thanks to soldaderas or Mexican female soldiers during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) (Adelita is the name of the most famous soldadera which by the way is also one of the most famous Mexican songs of the time). The dress is widely used in Mexico, and today represents an authentic Mexican style.
Puebla Dress
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There is no specific outfit to wear to celebrate the most awaited festival, Day of the Dead (el Día de Los Muertos). Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.
Many people may dress in whatever they want, however, it’s important to do dresses, big feathered hats, flower crowns, sugar skull face paint and the most important detail: colour. Most Mexican women will opt for embroidered Puebla Dress because it is deemed to fit sugar skull face paint while wearing a flower crown.
For the holiday, many ladies wear traditional Mexican clothes with full skirts and flowy tops. These are typically brightly coloured and may feature intricate embroidery or other motifs. To add one significant information skull masks for the Day of the Dead are meant to be joyful rather than terrifying.
Source: ArtMuseum, n.d