If you’re looking for a costume for Halloween, a fancy dress or theme party, you can consider an around the world costume. So, what could be considered costume ideas from around the world?

Well, there are many, many different countries across the world and many of these countries have clothing and outfits, accessories and hair styles associated with them.

Some of these are stereotyped images associated with the country, but many are examples of traditional and historical dress, such as folk costumes, which may be still worn today, sometimes on a daily basis, and sometimes during festivals. Traditional outfits are often colourful and quite often impractical by today’s standards. Another possibility is military uniforms; many, especially older ones, are distinctive and associated with specific countries such as the British Redcoat or US Cavalry uniforms. Some outfits have been spread across the world and can be considered traditional wear in countries far from their original origin due to their original wearers moving to different countries.

The initial step is to pick a country, and then look up traditional outfits associated with it.

When choosing an outfit, you really want it to be distinctive and recognisable as belonging to the country in question. There’s not that much point choosing a costume if no-one realises that it actually is a costume. If you are going as a couple or a group, you really want to look for complementary outfits that are both recognisable as being from the same country.

Here are some examples of around the world costume ideas for both men and women.

Japan – The Japanese kimono is a traditional garment that can be worn by anyone – man, woman or child – although these days they are most frequently worn by women. The literal meaning is “thing to wear.” The kimono is a t-shaped unlined robe with long, wide sleeves and an attached collar. For a women, this outfit can be accessorised with a traditional hairstyle, which would involve the hair being up on the head, and footwear. For a man who does not want to wear a kimono, there is the easily identifiable samurai – the military nobility – outfit, with or without weapons and armour.

Spain – There are some very distinctive outfits associated with Spain and Latin culture. For a woman the female flamenco outfit, or “traje de flamenca,” is much more recognisable than the male. It consists of a brightly coloured ankle length dress which is adorned with ruffles on both the skirt and sleeves. hair is traditionally worn in a bun, and a mantle can be worn over the dress. For a man there is the outfit of the torero – commonly known outside Spanish speaking countries as a matador, and sometimes as a toreador – a Spanish bullfighter. This easily recognisable outfit is known as the “traje de luces” or “suit of lights” from the sequins and gold or silver reflective threads that adorn the jacket, which is worn over a white shirt, and tights. Additional accompaniments include a hat and a cloak.

Africa – A number of African countries have similar, colourful traditional dress although this does vary from region to region. For women there is the buba and wrapper set, which is a pull over women’s robe, and can vary from tailored to a simple drape over. The wrapper is a wrapped skirt. This is often worn with a colourful head scarf. For men there is the dashiki, a colourful garment worn like a shirt. This is worn with trousers and headgear, such as Kufi and Aso Oke hats.

United States – Cowboy outfits and Western wear, widely associated with the old Wild West, are a unisex possibility. Both cowboy and cowgirl outfits are available. The outfit could consist of cowboy boots, leather chaps worn over trousers, a Western shirt and a wide variety of jackets such as fringed one. Ten gallon hats and Stetsons are popular and associated with the time, although this is mostly down to the influence of fiction. One accompaniment is the inclusion of a gunbelt and gun, for that gunslinger look.

Here are some more detailed ideas:

For Men – The Gunslinger

For Men – The Spanish Bullfighter

For Men and Women – The Cowboy or Cowgirl

For Women – The Flamenco Dancer

For Women – The Kimono