Description

The ethnic clothing worn by people who residein the country of Pakistan and are of Pakistani descent arerepresentative of the culture of the nation. It is an amalgamationof the different ideologies of the people of the country. Theclothing also takes into account the weather conditions of theregion.

Due to the long, shared history that the country shares withIndia, there is quite a similarity in the dressing patterns whencomparisons are made in certain regions. Pakistani clothing alsoshowcases similarities to ethnic groups of central Asia. Of coursetoday, many youngsters in Pakistan have embraced Western style ofclothing.

Shalwar kameez (shalwar qameez) is the national dress ofPakistan. Shalwars are loose pants designed in various styles. Theshalwar is tied at the waist with the help of a drawstring. Morerecently, elastic is also used in place of drawstring. The fit isgenerally baggy or tapering.

Narrow tight-fitting shalwars are known as churidars. The kameezis large and loose-fitting tunic, worn with the baggy shalwar. Menas well as women wear the same attire, with a difference in thecolor of the cloth, fitting, silhouettes and the embellishmentsused.

Men also prefer Sherwani and vest along with the shalwar kameez.Kandahari or Jinnah cap is also commonly paired with a Sherwani ora shalwar kameez. A Sherwani is a long coat worn with a shalwar andis generally made from heavy fabrics. Peshawari Chappals and Khussaare the most preferred footwear among men. In regions wheretemperature is considerably cold, men opt for Pashmina or Shahtooshshawls to keep them warm.

Shalwar kameez and lehenga are the traditional attire worn bywomen in Pakistan. While shalwar kameez is also worn as a dailywear, lehenga is a typical attire for ceremonies and specialoccasions. Interesting patterns woven with lace are used to addfeminine element to the lehenga. Women also wear a dupatta withboth shalwar kameez and lehenga. Dupattas are long yards of cloth;their colors and patterns are coordinated as per the entireensemble. Women also wear scarves or shawls with the salwar kameezin the chilly winters.

Apart from the traditional clothing, Pakistanis also don westernattire including shirts, trousers, jeans, etc. However, traditionalclothing definitely has a strong foothold in the modern society ofPakistan even today.