TYPICAL COSTUMES OF VENEZUELA (BY REGIONS) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical costumes of Venezuela are the traditional clothes 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, Centro-occidental, Insular, Zuliana, Nororiental 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 where indigenous populations live.

The liqui liqui is recognized as the masculine garment that identifies folklore and national tradition. It is a typical suit consisting of a straight jacket with long sleeves and a high, closed neck. It has pockets on both sides at chest level and at the bottom, and it closes in the front with a row of five or six buttons.

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

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

On the other hand, the typical traditional costume of Venezuelan women consists of a very colorful and flowered two-piece cloth dress. A plain or printed short-sleeved blouse with a tray collar and a printed skirt that, depending on the region, falls to the ankle or is worn to the knees.

This feminine suit is combined with espadrilles or quotes, which is the typical footwear and is used by women and men alike. It can also be combined with medium and wide heels. Women generally wear 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 the history, the climate, the geographical location and the predominant ethnic group in each region.

Capital Region

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

The Caracas women assumed the traditional dress of the «old lady», a reminiscence of the women of European high society residing in the country. It is a flowy dress with exquisite silk and lace fabrics.

Under the dress are several layers of fabric or iron framers to give it volume. The intricate outfit is completed by roomy hats, gloves, and an umbrella made of soft fabrics to protect against the tropical sun.

Men wear trouser suits and jackets, made of linen or cotton, usually in 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 added elegance than out of a physical necessity.

Typical costume of Miranda and Vargas

In the Miranda state, traditional clothing is less formal. 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 ruffled blouse, gummed on the top and leaving the shoulders bare. In addition, they wear colorful scarves that they wear on their heads or wave them with their hands when they perform traditional dances.

The Vargas state is located on the central coastline and the tradition of drum dancing made women adapt traditional clothing that allowed them greater mobility when dancing. The blouse is tied at the waist to make it tighter and the skirt is less wide.

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

Los Llanos Region

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

According to the occasion, the suits are usually more elegant or casual. For formal events, the liqui liqui is made of linen with striking buttons, combined with black leather boots, a «pelo e 'guama» hat and a saddlebag.

To make female clothing more formal, the length of the skirt is extended and the volume of the skirt is increased, even wearing a suit. The sleeves of the blouses are elongated and have bright colored ribbons. On the head they use showy flower arrangements or a simple cayenne flower.

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 states of Táchira, Mérida and Trujillo. The geographical aspect is decisive in the typical clothing of this area.

Male suit

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

The typical clothing of the region is very practical. Formerly, the men of the field also carried useful accessories for work, such as the cogollo (straw) hat to protect themselves from the sun.

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

Female suit

The ladies wore wide and long skirts, and underneath they wore long underskirts of solid colored fabrics to help warm the legs; these were preferably black. They also wore a long-sleeved white blouse and a cotton or linen jacket to ward off the cold.

The women tied a headscarf and the hat was worn over it to lessen the cold, but when they worked in the fields they wore them the other way around: first the hat, which was held with the scarf to prevent the wind from blowing them away. will fly. These details were incorporated into the typical costumes used in traditional dances and festivals.

As a curious fact, the monotony of unicolor clothes gave way to new designs when imported fabrics arrived in the country. The first to be obtained were fabrics with large dots or polka dots, which gave rise to the Creole phrase “andas pepiada”, to indicate that it was in fashion.

Zuliana Region

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

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

Female suit

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

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

Guajiro footwear is the sandal, which is adorned with large balls of wool in a range of vibrant colors. Their bags are woven and have a long handle to hang them across the body. On the head they use a ribbon, usually red, which covers the forehead and ties at the back.

The natives wear various necklaces, as they are considered magical and are inherited from mothers and grandmothers. On special occasions they can wear pints made with natural pigments on their faces and arms.

These garments have been used by Venezuelan beauty queens in international competitions as a traditional costume. 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 wear a guayuco or "loincloth." A small piece that only covers the genitals, which is tied with a braided ribbon from which small, warm-colored tassels hang.

The torso is bare, but more recently they have started wearing a white flannel. The indigenous people always carry a small woven bag to store 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 ornaments. On ceremonial occasions they may wear a headdress.

Island region

This region includes the Nueva Esparta state and the Federal dependencies (Caribbean islands). The typical costume for women is one piece; that is, the blouse and the skirt are attached. It consists of a wide, multi-story skirt that falls to the ankle.

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

The blouse has three-quarter sleeves, a high neck and is adorned with ribbons and buttons in the same color as the skirt at the back. The typical female and male footwear is the sole espadrille. Women also wear ribbon bows to adorn their heads.

The man wears white trousers rolled up at the mid-leg, which he combines with a white or red collarless shirt. Sometimes the pants are black combined with a white shirt. Other times they wear khaki suits with a loose shirt over the pants.

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

Guayana Region

This region is made up of the states of Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro. His most representative typical costume is that of the Amazon. The women wear a colorful and flowered skirt that is worn mid-leg and is combined with a white blouse, belts and indigenous necklaces.

The typical men's wardrobe consists of white pants and a colored shirt that is adorned with indigenous necklaces that are also very colorful. In some indigenous tribes the guayuco is still used and the torso is naked; this is also another very representative wardrobe of the region.

Central Western Region

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

In Falcón, the typical suit for men is khaki pants with white flannel and a wide-brimmed cane hat. The women wear a flowery skirt combined with a high, light-colored blouse, similar to the costume used to dance joropo.

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

In the Yaracuy state the typical costume is the liqui liqui. The women wear ankle-length dresses that end in ruffles. They are generally very colorful and are accompanied by capes or blankets over the shoulders.

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

Northeast Region

It is made up of the states of Anzoátegui, Monagas and Sucre. The typical Anzoátegui costume is the liqui liqui with a "pelo e guama" hat for men, and a wide, flowered skirt with a low-cut light-colored blouse for women.

In Monagas, the typical costume for women consists of a dress with a wide skirt that falls to the ankles, with very vivid and striking colors; Currently, the midi skirt with wide lace is also used.

The blouse is white with low neckline and short sleeves with grommets. Women often wear loose hair adorned with a flower. They wear sandals or espadrilles.

The man wears white trousers that are rolled up at the mid-leg. Combine it with a white or red collarless shirt or black pants with a white shirt. The preferred hat is the «pelo e 'guama».

In the state of Sucre, women wear a wide flowered skirt with flats that falls to the ankle. It is made with seven rods of light or red background cloth. The blouse has three-quarter sleeves with a high neck, which is adorned with ribbons and is buttoned at the back. The feminine and masculine footwear is espadrilles or you quote.

Central region

This region is made up of the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes and Guárico. In Aragua, the typical costume for men is white trousers and a shirt with a red scarf around the neck, a "hair e 'guama" hat and espadrilles. The one for women consists of a wide floral skirt combined with a white blouse.

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

The typical costume of Cojedes is the liqui liqui for men, accompanied by espadrilles and a bud hat or "pelo e 'guama". The women wear flower-patterned skirts and short-sleeved lace blouses.

The typical wardrobe of the Guarico state consists of a wide skirt with floors to the ankle and a three-quarter blouse and high neck for women. It is adorned with ribbons and is buttoned at the back.

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

References

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