During the summer time, the men wear a long thoub, cut along the lines of a shirt which reaches to the ground. It is a matter of their dignity that their thoubs are perfectly clean & ironed. And men will havhis clothes taylor-made, from choosing fabrics in different shades of white, of fibres on weaves. They get to choose the shape of the collar, the buttons & the cuffs.
Now a days many young men (shabaab) will select a style to suit their taste. The thoub is worn over long white cotton trousers, or boxer style-shorts. During in the winter months, the style of thoub does not change, but the weight of the fabric increases, greys, brown, & blacks make their appearance. To cover their heads young Qatari boys (shabaab) wear an embroided cap called a gahfeya.
At first they cover that with a folded square cloth, the ghutra. They can wear on special occations or on a daily basis. In the summer months, offen red & white or black& white. In the winter sometimes creamy cashmere, the ghutra is held in place with double black coil, the iqal-sometimes with one or two cords and tassels-which the bedoin used to tic their camels at night, the loops being pulled over the camel's knee to bend one leg & prevent it moving fast.
For ceremonial occations, the black-gold edge cloak, the bisht. It does not have buttons. To greet someone they keep one arm in the bisht and the other free to shake hands. In winter months they used to use a heavy camel hair or wool cloak, the fahrwa, offen lined with lambwool was worn in cooler weather, it would be placed by a fleece or wool sleeveless waistcoat. Now a days it is more common to see a western-style hunting jacket.
At first they cover that with a folded square cloth, the ghutra. They can wear on special occations or on a daily basis. In the summer months, offen red & white or black& white. In the winter sometimes creamy cashmere, the ghutra is held in place with double black coil, the iqal-sometimes with one or two cords and tassels-which the bedoin used to tic their camels at night, the loops being pulled over the camel's knee to bend one leg & prevent it moving fast.
For ceremonial occations, the black-gold edge cloak, the bisht. It does not have buttons. To greet someone they keep one arm in the bisht and the other free to shake hands. In winter months they used to use a heavy camel hair or wool cloak, the fahrwa, offen lined with lambwool was worn in cooler weather, it would be placed by a fleece or wool sleeveless waistcoat. Now a days it is more common to see a western-style hunting jacket.
Older women follow their tradition, by wearing a long dress or djelabia, offen cotton. They cover themselves by a black cloak called abbayah made from silk, cotton, or a silk cotton mix. The djelabia is embroidered at the neck and cuffs or sometimes, short sleeves. They used to wear under the djelabia baggy ankle-lenght trousers called sirwal,heavily embroidered around the ankle cuff. The the djelabia is still prefferred dress of elderly woman, has been replaced for the younger generation by more western clothes. Based on my experience when Im running erands I sometimes like to wear the djelabia because its light weight & comfortable during the hot weather. My friends react when I wear djelabia. They said "what are you wearing?" or "why don't you wear pants?' I find that wierd beacause it is our tradition. I find it shameful when people don't embrace their culture. Qatari women
cover their hair with a scarf the shaila sometimes decorated under a head-to-toe abbaya.
Thus the older more traditional women use as short nose or chin-length musk, the battula, the younger women, if veiled usually choose a Bedoin style chest-length veil, the hijab which just leaves their eyes exposed. Although the masks are made of calico, they are dyed with indigo, & beaten, giving them a metallic appearance. Young, girls in garangarou wear the bukhong, a lightweight black head covering which is chest length at the back, heavily embroidered with gold or silver thread around the face & down the center front panel. Today Qatari women follow fashion and to western designers fashions.
Traditionally embroidery for women decorated & pattern Thobe A Nashal, a over dress of light weight chiffon stiched from vertical and horizontal panels to create a ‘T’ shaped dress when laid flat. The embroidered Thobe Al Nashal used to be worn by Qatari brides. The ladies only celebrate in the bride’s home-henna night –is part of the wedding ritual for a Qatari bride. Beautiful patterns in henna are applied to the hands, arms, feet & ankles of the bride & those who are closest to her can also take turns to apply the henna.
Nowadays, many of the dresses are produced, free hand machine embroidery bein, used for gold & silver threadwork, but with pearls beads & sequins or metallic pieces added by hand. The neckline is also decorated.
Weddings, family celebrations bring out beautiful gold jewelry such as hairpieces, necklaces, bracelets & pendants. It is designed not only for their elegance but in some cases for bringing good fortune.