Kirgiz Clothes

Kirgiz men usually wear a blue or black sleeveless long gown made of sheepskin or cotton cloth over a white round-collared shirt with embroidered laces. Some wear a collarless long gown made of camel-hair and laced with black cloth around the cuffs. They hang a small knife or flint on their leather belts, and often put on leather trousers and boots. They look very brave in their costumes.

People of the Kirgiz ethnic minority, no matter young or old, male or female, all wear a green, blue, purple or black round-topped little cap made of corduroy, and a high-topped leather hat or a terai in all seasons.

Kirgiz women wear a wide collarless jacket buttoned down the front and a black waistcoat or a collarless long gown over the jacket. Young women love red dress and cap and mostly wear a red or green kerchief, but old women prefer white kerchief. Women like to wear high embroidered boots. Unmarried girls comb their hair into many plaits, decorated with silver chains and beads; once getting married, they will change the plaits to two.