dress-up tourism

September 1, 2008 9:54 AM

where in the world can you go as a tourist and dress up in the traditional costume/apparent of that culture?

a folkore student is looking to expand her thesis area which relates to "dress up tourism--" places where you can go and participate in dress-up activities that allow people to try on the traditional garb of a folkgroup, culture, region, occupation, etc. Preferably things touted as tourist activities. For example. going to Japan and dressing as a Geisha. There are many North American Old ort or Old Village type activites--but where else in the world????

posted by Dcotton to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

Err... I clicked in here to tout... going to Japan and dressing as a Geisha.
posted by Jahaza at 10:18 AM on September 1, 2008

-Lederhosen in Germany
-Poncho (worn by drunken American teenage tourist) in Mexico
-Grass skirt in Hawaii
-Sari in India

Seems like it would be tougher to find places in the world where you can't do this...
posted by nitsuj at 10:21 AM on September 1, 2008

A Yankees cap in New York. Wait, that doesn't count?
posted by stereo at 10:53 AM on September 1, 2008

What about going to Germany in order to dress up in (somewhat fictionalized) costumes of the American Old West?

Or going to the UK in order to dress up as Viking invaders?
posted by Forktine at 10:57 AM on September 1, 2008

I think the OP is asking for specific tourist attractions or activities that encourage you to dress up in a cultural costume... not what kinds of costumes come from where.

I just keep thinking of those godawful cowboy photo saloons they have here in california. Almost everyone here has been forced to dress like a gunslinger or saloon girl at some point. With a google search I'm realizing they do it in other states too, though.

As far as other cultures, I know that in Hawaii they have tourist luaus where they make guests dress up and get onstage. And when I was on a Nile cruise, on the last night they encouraged people to wear gallibayas to the final dinner and dance. I didn't, but a lot of people did.

Never saw people dressing up in lederhosen as a tourist activity... actual lederhosen is kind of expensive though, it's kind of an investment like in America someone would spend money on a good suit. That said, while I've never been to Oktoberfest it wouldn't surprise me if someone tried to make a quick buck selling cheap german outfits and hats for uninformed drunk tourists to wear so they can "fit in" at the event (kinda like the way Thai girls braid tourists' hair... when no locals would be caught dead with their hair that way)... I mean, if they're not they should be. That's a quick buck just asking to be made right there. "Oh ja madam! Vee aaaalvays vear a hat made out ov grilled shnitzelbrot und saurkraut on zee Saturday ov Oktoberfest!!! Sehr schön!!! Mochten Sie Bier noch einmal trinken???" (yeah, my german's rusty)
posted by miss lynnster at 10:58 AM on September 1, 2008

perhaps I was not clear enough..I am looking for formal structured tourist activities that contain an element of dress up, in the context of understanding a particular folk, or ethic group--so things like spending a day undergoing the full process of assuming (e.g.) geisha clothing, makeup, hair, learning about the tradition and role that led to the development of the apparel, why they use the kind of fabrics they do etc.
posted by Dcotton at 11:00 AM on September 1, 2008

You can dress up with traditional peruvian ( not sure if it is quechua or aymara) ponchos or dresses and go to a "traditional" dance on the Isla Amantani, on Lake Titicaca. They basically lend you their clothes, so it's really, really typical. Lots of fun.
posted by ddaavviidd at 12:46 PM on September 1, 2008

To echo miss lynnster, the first thing I thought of was City Slickers. Dressing up as a cowboy (and to a lesser extent cowgirl) is part and parcel with touring the American Southwest.
posted by carsonb at 12:52 PM on September 1, 2008

There are tons of places you can rent a kimono for the day in Japan, though only a few are faced towards foreign tourists.

Here's a place in Kyoto you can wear a kimono and take in a tea ceremony. And there are many simialr things in Tokyo as well.
posted by Ookseer at 1:08 PM on September 1, 2008

When I stayed in a Ryokan in Kyoto, my mother and I were treated to a traditional multi-course Japanese meal while wearing the traditional kimonos. I had bought one earlier that day so I was prepared, but my mother had to wear one of the inn's. About 20 minutes prior to dinner, a woman came to our room to help us tie our obis properly. It was a nice experience.
posted by nursegracer at 2:16 PM on September 1, 2008

When we stayed with a Rungus family south of Kudat on the northern tip of Borneo in Malaysia, they dressed us up in their traditional costume. It was wildly entertaining for them because we were big fat Westerners who didn't fit in their clothes. A casual google makes it sound like most people who do Rungus homestays stay in a "traditional" tourist longhouse, but we were with the Misompuru group (scroll down) and so we stayed in a modern house. The dress up was just one of many activities and it turned out to be far more informative than hokey.

The Rungus were simply our most favorite people to visit, ever, if anyone ever is wondering if it's worth the trek.
posted by arabelladragon at 5:39 PM on September 1, 2008

In the UAE it's strictly illegal to dress up in national dress, but if you take part in one of the Desert Safaris you can try on the local dress as part of the experience.
posted by Fezzer at 2:20 AM on September 2, 2008

Sa Pa, Viet Nam, Hmong.
posted by whatzit at 4:05 AM on September 2, 2008

And what arabelladragon said about staying with people - I used to work with the Javaé in Brazil, and got to try on the "prettiest girl in the village" costume. I most definitely was not the prettiest girl in the village, which is a democratically elected title, so it was pretty generous of them. The guys with me got to try out the chief's headdress.
posted by whatzit at 4:07 AM on September 2, 2008

Loads of touristy places in China do that, with national costumes from different time periods - but perhaps not in the immersive/cultural kind of experience you're looking for. More like dressing up and taking a picture, which is a pity.
posted by monocot at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2008

There's a tourist thing in Israel where groups can dress up in old testament-style clothing and ride donkeys. I don't remember the name of it, though.
posted by mismatched at 4:11 PM on September 2, 2008

In both China and South Korea, there are many places that offer traditional costumes for a photoshoot (as monocot said), but I didn't see any more extensive activities structure around them.

What about Renaissance Fair culture and events?
posted by bassjump at 9:00 PM on September 2, 2008

There are many North American Old ort or Old Village type activites

I live in the US and have no idea what you are referring to. Perhaps this is less prevalent in North America than you think.
posted by yohko at 10:00 AM on September 3, 2008