Clothing
Update: 01-26-05
The Shaula were a selection of clothing traditional to eastern cultures. The
range of clothing choices is broad as this is a big kingdom. The Jabbah are
predominantly traditional middle eastern, with robes, loose pants, hip scarves,
antari's, short jackets. Fabrics are silk and cotton, the silk is imported from
the Jillhani.
Clothing is often rich jewel tones, and the women are usually well
covered, but the clothing is provocative. Some traditional women wear veils,
while the men go bare headed or wear simple hats..
Zuberi are always dressed modestly in public and especially in the Sun.
The higher the position of the person, the more modestly they are likely to be
dressed. Even dancers are likely to show only a little belly and ankle.
However, the Zuberi people are neither shy nor prudish. When in private
or gender segregated events will wear MUCH less and be comfortable naked.
What is most critical is maintaining a demure and virtuous presentation
when in the public eye. This applies to both men and women.
See also the article on Purity under Traditions.
Colors
All Zuberi have a love of vibrant colors, especially when at home. Rich
pastels and jewel tones are the most common. Red is considered to "enflame
the passions" and is typically reserved for under garments. Outer
garments however tend to be shades of white, tan and brown.
Women
Traditional women's clothing is comprised of a number of layered garments,
worn in a variety of different layers.
- Sirwal or Shelvar - Blousy pants gathered at the ankles - often stripped or
sheer
- Qamis or gomlek a sheer long shirt that falls to about the knees, is tight to
the elbow and then flares, leaving the lower arms bare.
- Antari or Ghawazi or Yelek - again a very light weight garment, typically
silk. It would fall to the floor, is often stripped and may be pulled down to
show cleavage.
- Jacket - a cropped jacket that is tight to the waist and had sleeves
- Choli - similar to a bodice, more typically worn by dancers to show off their
chest
- Cap - it was never required for a Zuberi woman to have her face completely
covered, more often a small cap or simple head wrap was worn.
- Veil - the more demure ladies will choose to wear a veil, it is almost always
sheer and worn down the back or looped around the front.
- Scarves - this is the most common additional item worn by dancers and is worn
low on the hips.
- Aba - a loose stripped outer robe worn pulled over in door clothes.
  
  
Men
Various pictures of mens clothing. Most men wear a robe with a long
vest or sash, some will wear the full pants and a short vest. Also long
sleeved coats with a linen skirt is likely.
  
Dress of the Desert Warriors
Hordes Men
The hordes men have a more Mongolian and oriental flavor. Things like a dell
and a kimono are possible. The clothing is layered, because the days are very
hot, but the nights very cold. Fur from the domestic animals is often used to
decorate their fancy garb or used as clothes and bedding. These people tend to
wear very bright patterns and lots of bangles and other jewelry and head pieces.
The fabrics are primarily a coarse felt or wool and cotton. Silk is rare except
as a wedding or court garment.
Slaves
Slaves in Zuben wear an ancient style of clothing similar to what the ancient
Egyptians wore. Slave women are almost never veiled and the clothing is often
quite revealing, in some cases it is nothing more then a simple wrap. Rasa of
wealthy families however can be found in fancier versions of this dress.
Depending on the occasion hats are worn over veils, though a larger veil to
protect them from the desert is used, over the sheer veils of the city people.
These heavier veils are attached to the hats. Men also wear hats and a heavier
head wrap.
Monks
The people of the monetary prefer simpler garb when in the oasis. The style
here is more Indian, with long robes, kurtas and sari's being worn in cool
peaceful colors. The fabric here is primarily cotton as cotton grows in the
oasis. Headwear is only used when traveling.
Henna and Harquus
Both Henna and Harquus are used by women to decorate themselves. Henna is a
paste made from flowers and was typically applied to the hands and feet. Woman
would gather together to apply the henna to each other and generally socialize,
dance, nap, and eat.
Harquus however are permanent tattoos typically around the face, neck and
upper chest. They are applied with a sharp stick and a very black dye. The
process is painful, but it is a sign of a woman's desirability if they are well
marked.
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