The suit is the traditional form of men’s formal clothing which originated from the Western world. 

 

The inspiration for today’s suits began over 400 hundred years ago at Royal Court in Britain, in an era when regulations did not allow commoners (poor people) from wearing  good furs or flaunting embellishments made from satin and velvet. These types of finery were meant only for the wealthy upper class. “the royal purple” and some ornaments were reserved only for the royals.

 

These laws continued until the middle of the 16th century when the Black Death broke out during 1665, putting even the monarchy at risk. It was no time for showing off wealth and health and or this reason, Charles II, the reigning king, odered his courtiers to tone it down. Courtiers began to dress in sober tunics and fitted breeches, in sombre tones which echo the tones of most modern business suits, and it set the stage for a new dress code, which led to the creation of the modern suit. Read more about the history of the modern suit.

 

 

    

The Indian Sherwani originated in the 18th century in South Asia. The traditional men’s outfit  was originally associated with Muslim aristocracy during the period of British rule. The sherwani evolved from a Persian cape (balaba or chapkan), which was gradually given a more Indian form (angarkha), and finally developed into the sherwani, with buttons down the front, following European fashion.

 

The sherwani is considered a formal outfit and is usually worn on special occasions like weddings, engagement ceremonies, and other formal events. The long coat-like garment is worn with tight-fitting trousers called churidar. The sherwani is usually made of silk or brocade fabric and has intricate embroidery work, which makes it look more elegant and regal.  It is often paired with a turban or safa, which adds to the royal look. The sherwani has evolved over time, and today it comes in a variety of designs and styles.

 

Read more about the history of the Indian Sherwani.

 

The Tangzhuang was derived from the magua, a Manchurian item of clothing which the Han Chinese were forced to wear during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).

 

The Chinese Tangzhuang is regarded as the clothing that can best represent Chinese traditional culture although the Mao suit, the western suit, and the Tang suit are the main forms of formal dress for men on many occasions.

 

 

 The Kimono is the national dress of Japan, a type of robe that is worn by men and women in Japan. 

 

Worn left side wrapped over right, the Kimono has square sleeves which have a wide sleeve opening and a rectangular body.  

The kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an obi, and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks. 

 

There are many types of kimono for men, women, and children, varying based on the occasion, season, the wearer’s age, and less commonly in the modern day the wearer’s marital status. 

Men’s kimono are often in subdued natural tones like navy, brown, or black, emphasizing the material itself rather than elaborate patterns.

Read more about the Japanese Kimono

Vietnam

Vietnam has roughly sixty different ethnic groups and because of this, the variety of traditional clothing styles vary. They only share a similar affinity in their  bright, contradictory colours and vibrant patterns.

 

The general traditional Vietnamese dress for men is known as the Ao Dai, a long silk tunic with a conventional looking snug collar and is buttoned down on the left side. The male Ao Dai falls to the knees and is generally worn with loose pants underneath.

 

The Ao Dai is worn together with a traditional hat, the Non La which is made from dried palm leaves woven together over several bamboo rims. Female hats usually have a wider brim, while male versions are higher with a smaller rim.

 

In the past, the colour of the Ao Dai in Vietnam indicated a man’s position in society and in ancient Vietnam Gold represented royalty. To represent their strength and might, the Kings’ Ao Dai was embroidered with dragons . High Ranking officials wore purple Ao Dai’s and the commoners wore various shades of blue.

 

Today, The Ao Dai is not commonly worn on an everyday basis. However, the Vietnamese wear it in large numbers on traditional occasions such as weddings and  New Year (Tet). The modern Ao Dai are usually ornate and colourful with intricate designs. Read more about Vietnamese Traditional Clothing for men.

 

With over 371 ethnic groups, Nigeria is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse countries. Yoruba, Hausa and the Igbo are the largest ethnic groups, each consisting smaller multiple tribes. The component cultures of Nigeria wear styles that are unique to their tribal society and cultural customs.

 

Popular traditional attire for men in Nigeria include:

 

 

 

 

Agbada

Agbada, is a 4 piece garment worn by Yoruba men. The Yoruba people are a West African ethnic group primarily found in parts of Northern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. 

 

The Agbada consists of a large, loose fitting outer garment (Awosoke), an under jacket (awotele), drawstring pants (sokoto) and to complete the ensemble, the Agbada suit is often accessorized with various types of caps, hats, and beads.

 

 

 

 

The Senator Style is common in Nigeria’s South Eastern and Niger Delta Regions.

The Senator Style  became a popular trend after Senator Anyim who usually rocked the then unique style to virtually all functions he attended as senate president.

 

Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, a former president of the Nigerian Senate between 2000 and 2003, under the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

This explains why the style, which has now become very popular, was given the name “senator”. 

 

Click here to see more Senator Styles for men.

 

 

 

 

 

The Isiagu Attire, (sometimes called chieftaincy) is a traditional Nigerian shirt which traditionally was given to a man who has received the chieftaincy title. The pullover shirt which is worn on special occasions like weddings, cultural festival and important traditional events, 

 

 

 

Jalabiyas worn in Nigeria are of East African origin and have a traditional style. The Nigerian Jalabiya has evolved over time into even more trendy and colorful clothes with the native embroidery, unique designs and patterns sought for by individuals of many ethnic origins and religious beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colors and patterns of Swazi traditional attire vary depending on the region of the country in which.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

DRC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dominican Republic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico