Oriental costume fashion has stepped over the borders of colorful festivals and surged into real life. In the country of “1000 and One Nights,” the colorful variety of outfits with a rich history has become almost commonplace, which, however, is still able to delight even a resident of the Emirates with experience.
Most recently, I was honored to become one of the bride's girlfriends at a real Moroccan wedding! I am well aware that the organization of the celebration is of great importance in Eastern cultures. And I also know that the most important component of each ceremony is the outfits that hide the symbolism and customs of a country. To comprehend Morocco and the mystery of traditional caftan, I go to the designer of the brand of the same name (Laila Amraoui) Leila Amraoui.
Talking about a Moroccan costume is harder than talking about any other outfit. Everything from the fact that Morocco is a country of diamonds, its facets are carved under the influence of individual cultures. Turkish, Berber, Arab, and even Christian influences bizarrely intertwined in the Moroccan caftan. And the whole world adores him! When Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma appeared in elegant Moroccan attire during the accession of King Willem-Alexander to the throne in 2013, readers Hello! Magazine unanimously expressed their admiration for the traditional clothing.
A caftan should not be confused with a similar jellaba, another Moroccan outfit worn by men. Moroccan women are very attached to their Moroccan wardrobes, because the manufacture of such clothes is relatively expensive - most of the work is done manually. Together with dresses in Morocco, they wear a wide belt with patterns - a galun. As brand designer Leyla Amraui told me, in Moroccan cities everyone knows where the manufacturers of chic belts live exactly. On the streets of medina, golden and silver threads are stretched for kilometers, from which the masters create real masterpieces. Men procure colorful threads; women sell buttons and embroidered belts with accessories.
Most Moroccan women purchase at least 3 new caftans each year to wear for a religious celebration or wedding. These are special, elegant and expensive outfits made of the best fabrics, which become a great pride for a woman. To imagine a bride and guests without them is simply impossible.
Wedding is very important for this people. In honor of the Moroccan tradition of Romeo and Juliet, who drowned in their own tears of grief in an attempt to reconcile their families, the country even hosts an annual wedding festival.
The celebration itself consists of several ceremonies, which can last from 3 days to a week. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Moroccan bride changes her wedding dresses, jewelry and hair from four to seven times. At the end, the girl appears in a magnificent white wedding dress.
Luxurious styles representing various regions of Morocco is a way to sing the whole world to the richness and brightness of the local culture. Visiting Leila Amraui, it became clear to me: any woman, whether a bride or her friend, is a true diamond of a wedding celebration, and she needs a corresponding cut. The Moroccan craftsmen, apparently, feel this well and are able to appreciate the beauty, because otherwise their reverent attitude to amazing outfits cannot be explained!
