Clothes, Culture, and Context: Female Dress in Kuwait

In this article I seek to demystify the dress practices of Muslim women in the Arabian Gulf by focusing on the clothing choices available to elite Kuwaiti females and how those choices are exercised. I examine when and where traditional and/or modern styles are worn, what fashion sources are consulted, and who patronizes which retail venues. Given the small size, great wealth, and conservative nature of Kuwaiti society, one dresses to impress in the knowledge that one will be scrutinized by one's peers and any dress code violations will be widely noted. Clothing that is comfortably worn abroad may be rejected as unsuitable for use at home. I thus conclude that when dissonance exists between clothing, cultural values, and context, context becomes the determining factor in making dress choices.