Moroccan Clothing

Traditional clothing in Morocco varies depending upon the region; garments commonly worn in the south of Morocco are rarely seen in Rabat. Here’s an overview of the traditional clothing worn in Morocco, and also some guidelines for what kinds of clothes are acceptable to wear within Moroccan society. Obviously, I’m not an expert in Moroccan clothing, so what I’ve written is based off of what I’ve heard while I’ve been here, not off of scholarship on the subject.

The Djellaba (also spelled Jellaba)

The djellaba is the staple of Moroccan dress, and it’s worn by both men and women. It’s a long robe with a pointed hood. For men, the djellaba is usually white, cream-colored, or black, with no patterns. The light-colored djellabas are oftentimes associated with royalty. The king of Morocco often wears a white djellaba. For women, djellabas are very colorful, with different options as far as tailoring and sleeve-length. Djellabas can be fitted or unfitted, and I’ve seen djellabas with three-quarter length sleeves, although they’re nowhere near as common as the long-sleeved version.

Me in one of my first djellabas.

Women in Morocco often wear djellabas for errands around the city, or other daily tasks. It’s less common for men to wear them on the street, although it’s certainly not surprising or out-of-place to see a man in a djellaba.  They’re comfortable, warm (in the winter, everybody’s bundled up in fleece or wool djellabas, which are basically like wearing a blanket wherever you go), and modest. They cover the whole body, and they don’t attract attention. Djellabas normally have to be worn over leggings and a t-shirt, because they often have slits in the sides instead of pockets. The hood of the djellaba can be used in cold weather, to cover the hair, or to protect against the sun, but most of the time it isn’t worn, especially not by women, who wrap their heads using scarf instead.

Lily and I in our djellabas for our celebration of Eid.

Djellabas can be purchased all over the city. In the medina, there are many shops that sell new djellabas, for around 200-300 dh ($20-30). There’s also a thriving second-hand djellaba market in the city. Sellers in the medina and in outdoor markets (souks) will set up a pile of djellabas on a blanket for the purchaser to sort through. Djellabas that are purchased second-hand range in price from 20-50 dh ($2-5). That’s how I’ve bought both of my djellabas! Djellabas can also be hand-made by tailors. The shopper picks out her own fabric and then brings it to the tailor to be sewn.

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, in a djellaba and fez.

The Kaftan (also spelled Caftan)

The kaftan is a hoodless robe, worn mostly by women in Morocco. I’ve never seen a man wearing a kaftan, but in other regions of the world it’s more common than it is here. The kaftan can be either very casual or very formal depending on its construction.

The casual version of a kaftan is made out of lightweight material, usually cotton, with little decoration or embellishment. It is acceptable to wear this version of the kaftan in the home, but not on the street. I own a casual kaftan, but only by accident. I bought it in my first week, thinking it was a djellaba. As a foreigner, I could probably get away with wearing it outside of the house, but I’d look pretty ridiculous to Moroccans.

I’m wearing a casual kaftan (far right) in this picture, as is Sophia (far left). Next to me, Claire’s wearing a djellaba.

The formal version of a kaftan is worn at celebrations such as marriages (by both the bride and the guests). This kaftan is very embellished, and oftentimes fairly expensive. Formal kaftans can also be rented for women who need them for a specific celebration. The prices for kaftans vary widely, from basic ones in the medina to designer kaftans purchased at designer stores around the city. Kaftans can also be designed and hand-made by tailors. Formal kaftans are often worn under the takchita (see below).

A formal kaftan.

The Takchita

The takchita, like the kaftan, is worn by women at formal celebrations. It’s composed of two pieces: a kaftan and a outer layer, often buttoned over the kaftan. It’s worn with a belt. If you google kaftan or takchita, the results will be mostly takchitas, because westerners often don’t differentiate.

The takchita, a two-piece formal robe.

Another takchita.

The Fez (also called tarboosh)

This traditional Moroccan cap is worn by men. It’s cylindrical, with a tassel typically attached. It’s rarely worn by men in the street, and when it is worn in the street it’s more commonly seen on older men.

A fez.

Baboosh

These traditional Moroccan slippers are worn by both men and women. They’re traditionally made out of leather, and range from the simple to the highly embroidered. Simple leather baboosh typically cost around 100 dh and can be found the medina. Baboosh are worn around the house instead of street shoes, but they’re also worn by men and women to do quick errands outside the house.

A shop selling leather baboosh.

A pair of embroidered baboosh.

What I wear in Morocco

I don’t wear traditional Moroccan clothes on a daily basis. I throw on a djellaba if I’m going to the hammam, or if I want to run to the hanut, but I don’t wear djellabas to school on a regular basis. Instead, I wear the same kinds of clothes I’d wear in the US, although I do make sure to dress modestly according to the following guidelines:

1. Covering my head with a scarf is unnecessary in most situations. I only cover if my hair is wet (after the hammam or a shower) or if I’m going somewhere where I’m worried I might not be comfortable, or might draw extra attention to myself by being uncovered.
2. If I’m wearing leggings or skinny jeans, my shirts need to cover my butt.
3. I wear short-sleeved shirts sometimes, especially when the weather was warmer in the fall, but Moroccan women typically don’t wear these outside the house. I’m more comfortable wearing short-sleeved shirts in Agdal, the more modern section of the city, than in the more traditional sections, like the Medina or Akaari.
4. Shorts are a no-go here. Any pants or skirts need to go at least past the knees.
5. Other than that, I dress like I would in the US. I went overboard before I arrived buying maxi skirts and tunics, which was unnecessary.
6. Clothes can still be fashionable while being modest. I forgot about that while packing for Morocco…