Cretan Costume : Dress, Clothing
Cretan traditional costume is still worn in some mountain towns and during special holidays and ceremonies [ see our section on ceremony in Crete ]. Both the male and female Cretan dress is beautiful and unique to the island of Crete.
Male Costume
The Cretan costume for males consists of a black woven kerchief with tassels that fits snuggly on the head, a black long-sleeve shirt, black short pants, long socks, black leather boots and sometimes a vest is worn over the shirt.
Female Costume
The Cretan costume for females is more intracate than the male counterpart. The females also wear a kerchief on their heads, although theirs is larger and longer than the male kerchief. The female dress also includes a loose blouse that is tucked into a long skirt, and a white apron that is tied around the waist. The apron is usually adorned with some embroidary and can be unique to individual. The woman also wears a detailed and beautifully embroidered jacket that is usually left open in front and also in the sleeves.
The Cretan costume is a gorgeous cultural element that serves as testimony to the rich Cretan culture and history.
