Today we are going to talk about what to wear when visiting a Muslim country as a female traveler. Due to culture differences, women are still considered as more inferior to men. Therefore it is important to dress modestly to avoid being viewed as prostitutes. Many Moroccan women still wears veil to cover up their face, especially in more rural regions.
In a Muslim country, what is appropriate for women traveller?
Larger cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, many women dresses more modern and less conservative. However I believe when travelling, it is important to respect the locals and learn about their cultures. Hence it is best to wear clothes that covers the “private” parts, such as both legs and shoulders. If you wear sleeve-less tops or mini-skirts you may get harassed. In Muslim culture , their idea of “modest” clothing is covering wrist to ankle for women and shoulder to below knee for men. It is good to follow these dress codes.
Cover the shoulders and knees checked!
A lot of researches I found online suggesting the use of head scarves. I find that unnecessary. The locals understands that you are not Muslim and there is no need to dress like a strict Muslim woman. Unless you are visiting a rural village, where people generally are more conservative, then dress accordingly. I think a bandanna or a hat is enough if you want to cover up your hair to avoid looking like a foreign tourist.
I ended up buying more pants in the local markets as I don’t usually wear 3/4 length in Australia
I have actually seen European teenagers in Essaouria wearing sleeve-less tops and super short shorts. Even I felt like it was a bit inappropriate in Western country, however they were walking like that with their parents in the medina. I purchased a pair of track pants below knee when I was in Australia to prepare for the trip, I then also purchased some pants in the local market so I can look nice in photos. In Morocco you cannot visit the Mosque if you are not Muslim, however in other countries you can. I suggest buying clothes that allows you to wear in the future.
Some tourists were wearing sleeve-less tops. This was in Fez, a larger city, hence it might be okay to do so.
Make up is definitely fine! Most Muslim girls spend a lot of effort on their eye make-up. Afterall that is the only part where it is visible to guys. General rule of thumb, cover your shoulders, your ankles and cleavage. Try to wear looser tops to avoid showing the outline of breasts.
If you have any questions on what to wear when visiting a Muslim country, please feel free to massage me. Enjoy your trip planning!
中文版 Read in Chinese: 摩洛哥 注意事項: 女生 穿著篇 What to wear in Morocco for Ladies?
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