Traditional Costume
Traditional Costumes are one of the unique cultural characteristics of Bahrain. People in Bahrain typically wear conservative clothing because it is a Muslim nation. Bahrain has always been an open society, so as long as you are courteous, people are generally extremely tolerant. Bahrainis enjoy dressing up in general. Therefore, make an effort to look your best wherever you go. Always iron your clothes! Visitors are not required to adhere to a dress code as long as their attire is modest; the general norm is to cover shoulders and knees, with the exception of hotel grounds, where more casual attire is acceptable.
For ages, Bahraini men have dressed in the same manner. These clothes are ideal for the environment and way of life there. Men still wear them today, even though there is a wide variety of Western-style apparel available. For instance, the "thobe," a traditional long robe. It is a long, flowy robe that envelops the entire body. Typically, clothing is white or beige, however, winter thobes may be a darker hue. Summer clothing is constructed of cotton or other lightweight materials, whereas wool is used to make winter coats (they are thicker and warmer). On naked skin, a thobe is not worn. There are light, thin undergarments, including a shirt and pants. Men will occasionally wear a woolen cloak called a "bisht" over a thobe. Typically, this attire is dark or black. Gold embroidery can be used to embellish a celebratory bisht.
Bahraini women dress in the traditional abaya and don a Muslim head covering (hijab, nikab, or other variation of a veil). The abaya is a long, black dress with long sleeves that can extend all the way to the floor. Since the fabric is so thin and delicate, it hugs the body elegantly. Some abayas are straightforward and understated, while others may appear more stylish thanks to lace trimming, embroidery, and ornate borders. Many Bahraini women, but not all of them, cover their heads with a headscarf of some sort. Some merely cover the neck and hair, while others also completely or partially cover the face. Sometimes these headdresses are quite colorful; they are not always black. Bahraini women's traditional clothing isn't usually all-black; it might look very diverse. The "jalabiya," a festival outfit, is often brilliant red with copious amounts of gold embroidery and gold jewelry. Little and young Bahraini unmarried females occasionally sport attractive gold hair accessories, resembling a cap made of gold coins and chains. It looks amazing!
