Typical Costumes of Venezuela

The typical costumes of Venezuela they are the traditional costumes that are part of the national folklore, which vary according to the region. This Caribbean country is divided into nine political-administrative regions: Capital, Central, Los Andes, Los Llanos, Central-Western, Insular, Zuliana, Northeast and Guayana.

Each of these regions has its own typical costumes. Most of them are variations of the same concept, except in those regions with marked ethnic differences inhabited by indigenous populations.

Liqui liqui is recognized as the masculine pledge that identifies folklore and national tradition. It is a typical suit consisting of a straight jacket with long sleeves and closed and high neck. It has pockets on both sides at breast height and at the bottom, and closes to the front with a row of five or six buttons.

The trousers are straight, made in the same fabric as the jacket, which is usually linen. The traditional colors of this piece are white and black. It was used both for daily work in the field and for gala events. The outfit is completed with a hat"black hair and black"and shoes or boots of the same color.

The use of this traditional Venezuelan piece is so ingrained in its customs that, although it is a masculine dress, there are also versions for ladies; Adaptations have been made with skirts of different lengths. Sometimes women also wear the hat or replace it with a floral arrangement on the head.

In contrast, the traditional costume of the Venezuelan woman consists of a very colorful and flowered two-piece fabric dress. A one-color or patterned short-sleeved blouse with a tray-type collar and a printed skirt that, depending on the region, falls to the ankle or is worn to the knees.

This female suit is combined with the espadrilles or cotizas, which is the typical footwear and is worn by both women and men. It can also be combined with medium and wide heel shoes. Women usually have their hair tied up in a bun.

Typical costumes of Venezuela by regions

Each of the Venezuelan regions adapted the typical clothing of the country taking into account the characteristics of each area and its people. The typical costumes are the result of history, climate, geographical location and the predominant ethnic group in each region.

Capital Region

It is comprised by the Capital District, where the capital city Caracas is located, and the Miranda and Vargas states. It is the most populated region of the country and where the Spanish whites, black slaves and criollos settled during the Colony, leaving a marked influence of their customs.

The caraqueñas assumed as a traditional costume that of"lady antañona", a reminiscence of the women of European high society living in the country. It is a flowing dress with exquisite silk fabrics and lace.

Under the dress are several layers of fabric or iron owners to give volume. The complicated attire is completed by ample hats, gloves and an umbrella of soft fabrics to protect from the tropical sun.

Men wear pants and jacket suits, made of linen or cotton, usually light colors. Formerly they could wear a tie or bowtie and, to complete the picture, a straw hat. Some used a cane, more as an accessory that brought elegance than a physical need.

Typical costume of Miranda and Vargas

In Miranda state, traditional clothing is less formal. The men wear khaki (cream-colored) pants rolled up to the calf and a white shirt or flannel.

The women wear a wide skirt to the knees, usually of flowered fabrics, a blouse with ruffles, gummed on top and leaving the shoulders uncovered. In addition, they wear colorful headscarves or shake them with their hands when performing traditional dances.

The state Vargas is located on the central coast and the tradition of drum dances made women adapt traditional clothing that would allow them greater mobility when dancing. The blouse is tied at the waist to make it more tight and the skirt is less broad.

The men wear khaki pants rolled up to the middle of the leg and a white shirt. As the drum dance is usually on the beach sand, the participants dance barefoot.

Los Llanos Region

The llanera region, made up of the Apure, Barinas and Guárico states, is the birthplace of the llanero attire, which also identifies the entire country. Here the joropo is danced and it is done using the liqui liqui men, and the wide skirts women.

According to the occasion, the suits are usually more elegant or casual. For formal events the liqui liqui is linen with striking buttons, combined with black leather boots, hat"hair and 'guama"and a riding.

To the female dress, to make it more formal, the length of the skirt is extended and the volume of it is increased, even the owner is used. The sleeves of the blouses lengthen and carry ribbons of bright colors. In the head they use striking flower arrangements or a simple cayenne flower.

The Andes Region

The Andean region is characterized by its high mountain range with the coldest temperatures in the country. It is made up of the Táchira, Mérida and Trujillo states. The geographical aspect is decisive in the typical clothing of this area.

Male suit

Men wear pants and shirts in cotton or linen, in light colors, cream or white. To protect against the cold, the piece indicated was a hand-woven ruana with raw sheep wool; this made the piece weigh between 3 and 7 kilos. The typical shoes are the espadrilles but, unlike the rest of the country, the Andean model is all closed.

The typical costumes of the region are very practical. Formerly, the men of the field also carried useful accessories for work, such as the shade of the head (straw) to protect themselves from the sun.

They also wore a wide leather belt that had pockets to store the money (silver coins), thread the comb (machete) and a marusa (cloth bag) to carry the strut (food).

Women's suit

The ladies wore large and long skirts, and underneath they wore long undershirts of unicoloured fabrics to help warm their legs; these were preferably black. They also wore a long-sleeved white blouse and a cotton or linen jacket to protect themselves from the cold.

The women tied a handkerchief on their heads and on this hat went to feel less cold, but when they worked in the field they used them in reverse: first the hat, which was fastened with the handkerchief to prevent the wind I will fly These details were incorporated into the typical costumes that are used in traditional dances and parties.

As a curious fact, the monotony of unicoloured clothing gave way to new designs when imported fabrics arrived in the country. The first ones that were obtained were fabrics with large or polka dots, which gave rise to the Creole phrase"peeled andas", to indicate that it was fashionable.

Zulia Region

It is comprised only by the Zulia state, but its tradition is so marked and its regionalism so characteristic that by itself it is a region. Their typical costumes are inherited from their indigenous inhabitants, who still occupy their territory in La Guajira.

This is a broad territory that encompasses both sides of the border between Venezuela and Colombia.

Women's suit

The most distinctive costume is that of women and it originates from the Wayuu ethnic group. The guajira blanket is a wide and long gown made of very striking cotton fabrics with prints of warm colors and very bright.

The model of the neck varies in the blanket: it can be round or"V". Internally it has a drawstring around the waist that makes it look tight on the front but loose at the back.

The guajiro footwear is the sandal, which is adorned with large balls of wool in a range of vibrant colors. Their bags are woven and with the long handle, to hang it transversely in the body. On the head they use a ribbon, usually red, that covers the forehead and is tied on the back.

The Indians wear several necklaces, as they are considered magical and inherited from mothers and grandmothers. On special occasions they can look pints made with natural pigments on the face and arms.

These garments have been worn by Venezuelan beauty queens in international competitions as traditional dress. Contemporary designers make them with modern touches and are marketed for the urban market.

Male suit

Unlike the striking costume of the indigenous Wuayuu, the men of this tribe use a guayuco or"loincloth". A small piece that only covers the genitals, which they tie with a braided ribbon from which hang small tassels and warm colors.

The torso is naked, but more recently they have begun to wear a white flannel. The Indians always carry a small woven bag to keep the knife they use to provide themselves with food.

They use a felt hat to protect themselves from the sun and leather sandals for the feet, without decorations. On ceremonial occasions they may wear a plume on their heads.

Island region

This region includes the Nueva Esparta state and the Federal dependencies (Caribbean islands). The typical costume of the woman is one piece; that is, that the blouse and the skirt are attached. It consists of a wide skirt that goes down to the ankle.

It is made with seven rods of flower fabric with a background with light colors or red. A ribbon or lace is placed over the seam of each floor.

The blouse is three quarter sleeves, high neck and adorned with ribbons and buttons of the same color of the skirt in the back. The typical feminine and masculine footwear is the sole espadrille. Women also wear ribbon ties to decorate their heads.

The man wears white trousers rolled up to the middle of the leg, combined with a white or red shirt without a collar. Sometimes, the pants are black combined with a white shirt. Other times they wear khaki suits with a loose shirt over their pants.

The straw hat is used and also the"hair and 'guama", which is heavier. This is used especially in the zapateados dances, to prevent it from falling.

Guayana Region

This region is integrated by the Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro states. His typical costume is representative of Amazonas. The women wear a colorful and flowered skirt that is worn in mid-calf and is combined with a white blouse, belts and Indian necklaces.

The typical wardrobe of the man consists of a white pants and a colored shirt that is adorned with indigenous necklaces also very colorful. In some indigenous tribes the guayuco is still worn and his torso is bare; this is also another wardrobe very representative of the region.

Western Central Region

This region is comprised by the states of Falcón, Lara, Portuguesa and Yaracuy. Each of these states has a very rich folklore, so the typical costumes are also varied.

In Falcón, the typical man's suit is a khaki trouser with white flannel and a wide-brimmed cane hat. Women wear a floral skirt combined with a light colored high blouse, similar to the suit used to dance joropo.

The typical dress of the Lara state for men also consists of khaki pants with white flannel, belt and cane hat (straw). The women wear a long skirt combined with a white blouse, quite similar to the llanero suit. Usually, this costume is used to perform the typical dance of the Tamunangue Larense.

In the state Yaracuy the typical costume is the liqui liqui. The women wear long dresses up to the ankles that end in flying. They are usually very colorful and are accompanied by layers or blankets on the shoulders.

The typical costume of the Portuguese state is also the liqui liqui for men, while for women it is a wide floral skirt and white blouse. Both men and women in this region wear espadrilles.

Northeast Region

It is composed of the Anzoátegui, Monagas and Sucre states. The typical costume of Anzoategui is the liqui liqui with hat"éma hair"for men, and the wide and flowered skirt with light colored blouse low for women.

In Monagas the typical costume for women consists of a wide skirt dress that falls to the ankles, with very bright and striking colors; currently the mid-calf skirt with wide lace is also used.

The blouse is white low cut and short sleeve with washer. Women usually wear loose hair adorned with a flower. They wear sandals or espadrilles.

The man is wearing white trousers that he is wearing half-leg up. It combines with a white or red shirt without a collar or black pants with a white shirt. The preferred hat is"pelo e 'guama".

In the Sucre state the woman uses a wide flowered skirt of floors that falls to the ankle. It is made with seven sticks of light or red cloth. The blouse is three-quarter sleeve with high neck, which is adorned with ribbons and goes buttoned back. The feminine and masculine footwear is alpargatas or cotizas.

Central Region

This region is integrated by the states Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes and Guárico. In Aragua the typical suit of the men is a white pants and shirt with a red handkerchief to the neck, hat"hair and 'guama"and espadrilles. The one of the women consists of a wide skirt of flowers combined with a white blouse.

In the state of Carabobo, the typical costume is the four-pocket liqui liqui with espadrilles and a sombrero (cane or straw) or"e guama hair". For women it consists of a wide skirt of flowered fabric and lace with white blouse.

The typical Cojedes costume is the liqui liqui for men, accompanied by espadrilles and a cogollo hat or"pelo e 'guama". The women wear printed skirts with flowers and blouses with short sleeves.

The typical costumes of the Guárico state consist of a wide skirt of floors up to the ankle and blouse three quarters and high neck for women. It is adorned with ribbons and goes buttoned from behind.

Men wear liqui liqui or white or black pants with white shirts, and a red scarf around their necks. The typical footwear for men and women is also the espadrille.

References

1. Typical costume of Venezuela. Retrieved on April 7, 2018 from ecured.cu
2. Typical and Folkloric Costumes of Venezuela. Consulted of actualidad-24.com
3. Typical costume of Venezuela. Consulted of trajetipico.com
4. Typical Costumes of Monagas. Consulted by regionnororiental5.blogspot.com
5. Venezuela in the world: These are the typical costumes worn by our Venezuelans in the Miss Universe. Consulted by venevision.com
6. Falcon Consulted of es.slideshare.net