40+ Fashion Mistakes That Men Need to Stop Committing

Men’s Awful Fashion Mistakes

Fashion changes all the time. This applies to men’s fashion as much as it does to women’s fashion. Just as there have been many fashion faux pas in the ladies’ niche, the same can be said for men. Today, we’ll be focusing on the mistakes committed by men. We have compiled a collection of unforgivable men’s fashion and style fails that have been committed. There’ll be laughter, cringes, and maybe even tears for these poor men.

Avoid Holes in Socks

All men seem to have holes in their socks, yet they avoid getting rid of them at all costs. The problem with holes in socks is that these don’t look any good. Unfortunately, if a worn area is starting to appear on the sock, you need to throw it away ASAP. Time for new socks!

Avoid Holes in Socks

If you’re prone to wearing out the toes faster than the rest of the sock, consider socks that offer more padding in the toe area in order to prevent holes. Throw out old socks and you won’t have to worry about holey socks anymore!

Prevent Product Build-Up

Men won’t admit it, but they secretly love their hair care products. From gels, hairsprays, and leave-in conditioners, there’s plenty for men to add to their hair. It‘s all good and well until you end up applying too much. Hair gel, especially, looks greasy and hard when you use too much.

Prevent Product Build-Up

You don’t need to apply much when it comes to hair gel and mousse. A small amount rubbed between your hands and spread evenly through your hair is sufficient enough for styling.

Get Rid of Denim Shorts

Many men wear denim shorts. Normally, they sit just above knee height. They’re popular for all different ages, from teens to adults. Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you… Get rid of them, now!

Get Rid of Denim Shorts

These shorts don’t look good and often have a too-relaxed look. Since pulling off the short denim look can be hard, avoid it altogether. Opt for something comfortable that still offers plenty of styles – like chino shorts.

The Classic Fanny Pack

Your eyes will hurt if you look at someone wearing a waist bag, or fanny pack as they used to be called. It’s a good idea for your sanity to avoid wearing one of these annoyingly popular items.

The Classic Fanny Pack

If we’re honest, we can’t say this trend made sense the first time around. Yet, here it is again, making most of us feel uncomfortable. Skip this one, gents! There’s no redeeming quality here.

Control the Sunglasses Look

Our friendly advice is to get rid of the sports sunglasses look; they no longer give off a cool vibe. If you want your shades to look like a fashion statement, then you need to stop buying cheap sunglasses.

Control the Sunglasses Look

If you want to come across as someone with style, opt for brands such as Ray-Ban and Tom Ford. If you’re budget-friendly, spend more money on other accessories for your outfit. Sunglasses don’t add much value.

Don’t Look Like a Costumed Character

Men seem to think that wearing more colors and patterns at once is a good idea. Let’s get one thing straight – it’s not, under any circumstances. You may be able to pull it off with dark or neutral colors.

Don’t Look Like a Costumed Character

When it comes to bright-colored patterns and shades, you can mix one or two. Any more than that and you’ll look like something from a kid’s cartoon. You may even get asked where the dress-up party is located!

Sports Jerseys Are Not Daily Attire

Let’s be clear on this one: Sports jerseys are great for getting in the mood to watch a game on TV or to show your support when going to a live game. Unfortunately, men seem to forget that the jerseys should come off after the game.

Sports Jerseys Are Not Daily Attire

Sports jerseys aren’t something that you wear around the house for daily wear. These types of clothes don’t work well for everyday wear. Stick to normal shirts or tanks for around the house and leave the jerseys for the next game.

Avoid the Clunky Look

Women can pull off jewelry, from bangles to rings and earrings. Men don’t have the same privilege. Men can’t wear a lot of rings on their fingers without looking messy. Forget the oversized jewelry and aim for one or two pieces of petite jewelry.

Avoid the Gangster Look

Avoid any big buckles, stones, or thick banded bracelets and rings. Work with silver more than gold, as gold can give off an obnoxious look more than silver.

Say ‘No’ to Fur

This look has been out of fashion for a long time. If you’re going camping in winter, then you can wear this. However, don’t let anyone see you wearing one of these anywhere else.

Say ‘No’ to Fur

For that matter, you can’t be seen in public wearing a fur coat or hat. You might be mistaken for someone living in the past. Putting a fur coat on leaves you open to many looks of confusion.

The Socks With Sandals Fad

Why do men think wearing socks with sandals is acceptable and looks good? The only way to describe this is simply ugly! Socks go with sneakers, and bare feet go with sandals. That’s the right way to wear them.

The Socks With Sandals Fad

If you feel a little self-conscious about your feet, then your best bet is to go ahead and just pop socks on and wear sneakers. Wearing socks with sandals at home is okay but slip on sneakers when you leave the house.

Brands Don’t Define You

Are you one of those people who are loyal to brand names? Do you feel good about wearing brand-name clothing? Think about it for a minute and realize that brands don’t define you or your style.

Brands Don’t Define You

Try out new clothes and see how they fit and feel. You may find other branded clothing to feel more comfortable than those with an expensive price tag.

Forget Beaten-Up Shoes

Now, if there’s something that ruins a good outfit, it’s dirty and beaten-up shoes. These shoes have the effect of ruining even the plainest, most casual look. If you’re prone to ruining shoes, have a nice, clean pair for outings and keep the more beaten-up pair to wear around the house.

Forget Beaten-Up Shoes

No matter how well you design your wardrobe and how expensive your outfit is, you’re ruining the look by wearing beaten-up shoes.

Monochromatic Suits

We only see monochromatic suits in movies like The Matrix. Quite often, these suits are only worn by movie villains. Wearing everything in the same color as a suit is a no-go.

Monochromatic Suits

The problem with doing this is it makes it hard to be noticed. You end up blending in, and people need to take a second look to notice you. Add some color! It doesn’t need to be bold, just enough to break the monochromatic look.

Tie Clips and a Vest

Never wear this! You already have a waistcoat that works well to hold the tie in place, so why would you need a tie clip? It just seems like overkill.

Tie Clips and a Vest

In this case, you need to choose one or the other – there’s no in-between or compromise, sorry folks. Going into a hurricane, well, maybe the two might prevent the tie from swirling around, but we think the waistcoat will do just fine.

Suspenders With a Belt

Why, oh, why would someone wear suspenders with a belt? Isn’t the whole point of wearing a belt to hold your pants up? Do you wear suspenders to hold your pants up? Why would someone wear both?

Suspenders With a Belt

Unfortunately, you need to choose which one you’re going to wear. Suspenders seem to be old and outdated now. Perhaps stick to a belt to appear normal, rather than overkill with the whole holding your pants up thing.

Get Yourself Some Collar Stays

Nothing looks worse than having a limp collar floating around in the wind. The good thing is you can buy a collar stay that’ll flatten the collar and keep it in place. There’s nothing formal about a limp collar. Collar stays are affordable and easy to use. You can’t even tell they’re there!

Get Yourself Some Collar Stays

So what’s your excuse for not wearing one? You can purchase a collar stay from any formal clothing shop that sells men’s shirts. Consider buying one when you buy your next shirt.

Correct Your Tie Length

One thing that we see too often is men wearing ties that are either too short or too long. Both look out of place and are easily noticed. A tie’s length needs to be around belt level. Sometimes, you can get away with it being longer, but never go shorter!

Correct Your Tie Length

Short ties are something to laugh about. It’s also important to consider the width. If you’re thin, then a thick one won’t suit you; a thin one won’t suit a larger person.

How Many Buttons?

There’s controversy over how many buttons are best to button on your suit jacket. The general rule is to open the last button on waistcoats and jackets. Some men might not worry about this, but it tends to interfere with the aesthetics and proportions.

How Many Buttons?

Remember to undo a couple of buttons on your jacket when you sit down. Doing so will take pressure off the threads. But in the same way, don’t walk around with all the buttons undone – it looks sloppy and ruins the impact of a suit.

Sneakers With Suit Pants

Well, we can’t say we agree with this look. We can’t bring ourselves to agree with it, but there is a way to make the whole outfit look better. We all own sneakers, but it doesn’t mean they’ll look good with a suit!

Sneakers With Suit Pants

Plain low-line white sneakers are the best to use if you really have to wear sneakers with a suit. Anything like high tops or bulky shoes is going to look ridiculous. This rule also goes for black sneakers, but it depends on what color suit you’re wearing.

Match the Socks

You might think it’s not a big deal, but socks can break or make an outfit. There are a few general rules when it comes to wearing socks. Don’t think it doesn’t matter because people can’t see them because, at times, they can.

Match the Socks

When you sit down, the pants slide up, and there are your socks. Avoid white socks at all costs, and cartoon characters or patterns go in the same category. Do everyone a favor and match the socks with the outfit.

Consider the Length of the Pants

Seriously, men don’t have fashion sense if they think the length of their pants doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what type of pants you have on, the length is important. Pants that are too long or too short look bad.

Consider the Length of the Pants

If you buy pants that are too long, a simple hem alteration will do the job. You have two options for pants: Over the shoes or just sitting on top of the shoes.

The Right Arm Length

This is another common issue that men seem to overlook often. It doesn’t look good to have your sleeves over your hands, whether it’s a suit coat, shirt, or casual long-sleeve. The sleeve should be positioned just over the wrist.

The Right Arm Length

Again, a simple hemming job will do the trick. It’s easy to learn how to do it yourself or take the shirt to an alteration shop to have it fitted and hemmed correctly. Don’t leave yourself looking sloppy when there’s a simple fix.

Incorrect Suit Fit

Sometimes, men like to splurge and buy expensive suits for a wedding or a special occasion. Unfortunately, there’s no point in buying an expensive suit if it doesn’t fit you correctly. There’s no in-between, it either fits or doesn’t.

Incorrect Suit Fit

A suit that seems to flow around you will give the impression that you wear clothes that are too big and you don’t care about your appearance. Men can change their whole image, for the better, with a suit that fits properly.

Big, Bold Slogan Icons

These T-shirts basically allow you to show people what you think. Unfortunately, these shirts don’t offer much in the way of fashion. There’s also the fact that many are meant to be funny, but the public doesn’t see it that way.

Big, Bold Slogan Icons

Small logos are ok, especially if they’re for a brand. Many t-shirts that say stupid things like “I paused my game to be here” are seen in a negative light. Keep these at home and go for something a little more stylish for outings.

Say ‘No’ to Extreme V-Necks

Some v-necks are okay if they’re small. You should stay away from the types that are just plain dramatic. You’ll get more frowns than anything else when wearing one of these. You might get a few ladies looking at your chest hair, but overall, these are bad.

Say ‘No’ to Extreme V-Necks

V-necks were once in, and some people still wear them. However, they’re more of a gym-wear option than something you’d wear when going out. Stick to something a little less overboard.

No Words to Describe It

What exactly is this? Is it a tank top, fishnet, or something else? Does it even have a name? The question is, why is a man wearing one of these?

No Words to Describe It

That’s certainly not gym wear, nor does it even fit in the casual department. What purpose does this “shirt” serve? Please don’t buy one of these.

Hats, Hats, and No Hats

Well, the whole hat thing that was once in has settled down now and barely exists. Seeing someone wear a bowler hat is a good conversation starter… when you’re in the mood to complain.

Hats, Hats, and No Hats

Sure, sun hats in summer are great! But hats for fashion? No way! If you’re wearing a sporty outfit, you may pull off the whole cap look, but that’s as far as that one’s going to go.

Not All Sunglasses Are Good

Some people wear sunglasses thinking they look good. Unfortunately, most of them don’t look good at all. Many people wouldn’t want to be seen without sunglasses.

Not All Sunglasses Are Good

Not because they shield their eyes from the sun but because they believe it makes them look good. If you aren’t using them for eye protection, avoid them at all costs.

Use Less Hair Products

What good advice! The problem men have when it comes to styling their hair is using too much product. This isn’t good, as too much gel and hairspray can make the hair look greasy and hard. We don’t think this is a good look.

Use Less Hair Products

You can achieve the same look when you reduce the amount you use. The thing to remember is to use the right product for the job. Some products are meant for spiking hair, which gel works great for but hairspray doesn’t.

Failing to Groom

When men don’t groom properly, it’s very noticeable. Many males reading this will state that they don’t use a moisturizer or pluck the hairs from their noses. Many are overdue for haircuts and can’t remember when they last used shampoo and conditioner.

Failing to Groom

A simple haircut, a good wash, and a proper shave can go a long way regarding your appearance. Did you know that men can take 10 years off their appearance when tidying themselves up?

Take Action and Brush Your Teeth

While it’s not only yucky to look at, it also feels gross when your teeth are dirty. It can be costly to go to the dentist, that’s for sure, but a good clean might be all you need.

Take Action and Brush Your Teeth

If you don’t clean your teeth, they turn yellow, and you end up with gum disease. Avoid kissing anyone, as your breath will be disgusting. Everyone’s happy when you have a fresh, clean mouth.

Don’t Overdo the Accessories

Too many men love to go crazy with accessories. Unfortunately, they can give off the look of someone trying to appear rich, which doesn’t look good. You can achieve a stylish look just by using a nice watch and even some cufflinks.

Don’t Overdo the Accessories

The more you wear, the more you look silly. Sometimes less is more. For men, a simple look with two accessories looks more appealing. There’s no need to overdo it.

Uh-Oh

Oh no, this hurts our eyes to look at! What on earth is going on in this picture? The black and white for a whole suit is wrong, not to mention the fact there’s so much going on with the pattern!

Uh-Oh

It looks like he chose this outfit to draw attention to himself, but he may have attracted the wrong kind of attention. A stylish outfit like this belongs behind a closed door. Patterns don’t suit men. If you must wear patterns, consider it for a handkerchief in your pocket.

Say ‘No’ to Shark Tooth Necklaces

These were once the ‘in’ thing, as they were considered fashionable. Unfortunately, that was many years ago. No one wears these anymore, apart for one or two surfers.

Say ‘No’ to Shark Tooth Necklaces

If you like wearing jewelry, opt for something a little more stylish and definitely in the current era. These are nothing more than novelty items when people wish to dress up as Crocodile Dundee.

Avoid Crocs

Unfortunately, Crocs never made it far in the fashion world. These weren’t popular among children and certainly not among men. Crocs look silly, and that’s all you need to know.

Avoid Crocs

Avoid wearing them. You’d probably look better wearing a pair of slippers. In fact, you’d probably gain more respect in slippers, or even bare feet, than you would while wearing Crocs.

Canvas Slip-On, No Way!

Canvas slip-ons are easy to put on and comfortable to wear. However, the truth is coming out and it’s going to hurt! Get rid of your canvas shoes. Don’t, under any circumstances, wear these in public.

Canvas Slip-On, No Way!

These shoes are in the same category as Crocs. They get dirty, are hard to clean, and simply look bad. You can do so much better! Even a pair of flip-flops would be better than the old canvas slip-ons. Time to up your game!

High-Waisted Pants, NEXT!

Oh dear, please avoid wearing old high-waisted pants. The style comes and goes for women, and most can pull it off without any hassle. Men, on the other hand, must steer clear of these. If you must wear these, don’t wear tucked-in shirts with them.

High-Waisted Pants, NEXT!

Men don’t need to highlight their hips. An oversized shirt might hide most of these pants. They may have worked back in the day but not anymore.

Toe Shoes

We have the Crocs and the canvas shoes, but unfortunately, we also have toe shoes. As if toe socks weren’t horrible enough, they were at least hidden by your shoes. Can anyone tell us what these shoes would pair well with?

Toe Shoes

These shoes shouldn’t have been invented in the first place, and we struggle to understand why and how they’d offer any benefits. Do you wear toe socks or no socks? Don’t answer that. Instead, throw them away!

Men Don’t Wear Earrings

Earrings were a thing that was popular in the 80s, and that’s where they need to stay. There’s no room for male earrings in this day and age.

Men Don’t Wear Earrings

A necklace or ring is a much better alternative. Lose the earrings and stop traveling back to the 80s – which is in the past for a good reason.

Ugg Boots and Men? Nope!

Sorry, but we have to say ‘no’ to men wearing Ugg boots. Ugg boots for men aren’t a thing, and they never should be. Sure, everyone likes to relax, so wearing them at home is fine.

Ugg Boots and Men? Nope!

Ugg boots are not leaving-the-house shoes that neither males nor females should wear. Let’s hope they don’t become a fashion statement again anytime soon.

Backpacks and Suits, Hmm

Yes, it’s a thing, men wear suits with a backpack on. Such a look is not a good one, and they often get frowned upon by many. A crossover body bag, or even one on the shoulder, isn’t as bad as a backpack.

Backpacks and Suits, Hmm

Perhaps it’s time to downsize your possessions if you need to carry a backpack. The other option is to carry it in your hands and try to look as casual as possible.

Dirty Shoes

You’ve just washed your white sneakers, and they’re sparkling. But then you look down and see the stains all over your laces. Not cool! It can be hard to remove stains from laces, and they often need stain treatment.

Dirty Shoes

The best thing to do here is to replace the white laces each time you wash your shoes so they look fresh and new each time the sneakers are clean. It’s a good thing that laces are only a few bucks!

A Male Midriff? Please, No

There’s nothing good about this! Men shouldn’t be showing off their bellies unless they don’t have a shirt on at all. A half-shirt? No way!

A Male Midriff? Please, No

It looks like he either put his daughter’s clothes on in the dark or his shirt had a fight with the dryer, and the dryer won. Surely this just shrunk, right? This can’t really be a thing, can it?

Tucked-In Shirts

Are you proud that you tucked your shirt in? Sorry, but there’s nothing good about tucking your shirt in. It looks old-fashioned and like you’re stuck in the past.

Tucked-In Shirts

Younger males can add 20 years to their lives when wearing one of these. Don’t expect to get anyone to accept you on a date when you’re still tucking your shirt in. Most likely, they’ll ask you if you still live with your mom.

Say ‘No’ to Square-Toed Shoes

You should avoid square-toed shoes at all costs. While they might seem good to wear if you like them, they aren’t acceptable under any circumstances. These shoes are outdated and make men look awkward.

Say ‘No’ to Square-Toed Shoes

These are the opposite of really pointed shoes. These shoes are just like real pointed shoes, except they offer a dramatic look which is something to avoid. Just stick to normal shoes for the best outcome.

Wedding Dresses Around The World That Have Withstood The Test Of Time

Even as the world transforms rapidly around us all, these traditional wedding dresses around the world have barely changed over the course of centuries.

Tibet

In Tibet, weddings are often suggested by elders in the family. In order to propose a match, an elder from the man’s family would visit the other family bringing gifts and tea.

Tibet

If the woman’s family accepts the gifts, then they accept the proposal. The groom’s family then prepares the wedding dress, a headdress adorned with silver coins, and a small metal Buddha amulet for the bride, which the groom brings to her on the day before the wedding.

Ghana

When a Ghanaian man proposes to a woman, they don’t exactly have privacy. The traditional way to propose is to visit her house – with his entire family in tow. He better hope she says yes…otherwise it could get embarrassing. Ghanaian couples usually match their ceremonial attire to each other.

Ghana

The outfits will be made of kente, a type of cloth handwoven in Ghana, and it’s custom for them to feature bright, colorful patterns and intricate geometric designs. These unique outfits should emphasize the couple’s unique love.

Hungary: Matyo People

The Matyo people are a subgroup of Hungarians who have inhabited Hungary’s northern regions for many centuries, retaining their culture amid many surrounding political and cultural shifts. In Eastern Europe, a proverb is often heard that goes, “You’re no Matyó embroidery!”

Hungary: Matyo People

This developed in admiration of their intricate and flawless embroidery of the Matyo. The dress features many florals, as flowers are representative of fertility. Wheat is woven into the headdress to symbolize this too, as well as prosperity and fortune for the new family.

India

In India, bridal gowns are no joke. Layered and layered with symbolism, the dress will have sixteen embellishments in total – all considered crucial to ensure a happy marriage. The wedding dress, or sari, is usually red to represent the rising sun.

India

In addition to everything the bride is already wearing when she arrives, one more feature will be added later in the ceremony: the jaimala, in which the couple place flower garlands on each other in a promise of love.

Scandinavia: Sami People

Although Scandinavia is divided into different countries today, its different regions share plenty of history and customs. But one of the longest surviving cultures there is called Sami.

Scandinavia: Sami People

The Sami people are indigenous to the far north of Scandinavia, stretching across parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula. Reindeer are native to this region, which the Sami are famous for herding. Their traditional clothing communicates many things about the person wearing them, such as their marital status.

Morocco

In Morocco, the wedding ceremony can last for up to a week and includes many parties. First, the bride and groom have separate parties to celebrate with their own families. Then, they come together for the legal procedure and a joint celebration, which symbolizes their marriage and the marriage of their two families together.

Morocco

The bride wears a dress called a takchita, and the groom and his family carries the bride on a 4-legged amariyah to demonstrate his ability to support her.

South Korea

In South Korea, the traditional wedding outfits of both the husband and wife are called a hanbok. The bride’s hanbok includes a short jacket with long sleeves, called a chima-jeogori, and a wrapped skirt.

South Korea

The groom’s hanbok is composed of a short jacket, called a durumagi, and lose-fitting pants, called baji. Ancient tradition insists that the groom carry his wife around a sacred table on his back – an act that demonstrates a sense of reliability to the bride.

Eritrea

Eritrean weddings last for an entire week! First, the families exchange gifts to each other. The next day will be full of song and dance, celebrating the match. Then the two families share a large feast, to symbolize long health.

Eritrea

Following the feast, two traditional songs are mandatory to sing: the Awelo, naming and honoring each member of the family, and the Masse, honoring the women who prepared traditional food for the feast. The bride and groom have their outfits matching colors as a symbol of their bond.

Japan

A traditional Japanese ceremony has many stages. It begins with a dinner for the two families to exchange gifts; each family has prepared part of the wedding dress for the other family.

Japan

The husband’s family will give the bride a wedding sash to wear over a white kimono, called an obi. The bride’s family will give the groom a type of pleated trouser, called a hakama, and a jacket, called a haori, which he will wear on top of his usually black kimono.

Gora

Wait…you haven’t heard of Gora? Don’t panic. It’s a region, not a country. But its bridal dresses will surprise you. Gora sits between Kosovo and Albania, and has long been inhabited by the nomadic Gorani people: ethnically Slavic, religiously Muslim, but retaining some traditions and customs from ancient pagan beliefs in the area.

Gora

Their weddings are a three-day affair, carrying the bride on a white horse covered with a custom scarf and decorated umbrella to the husband’s neighbor’s house, who hosts the wedding.

Mongolia

In Mongolia, two people who want to get married have to make a trip together to the groom’s house to ask for permission. If they agree, they will also then be in charge of preparing the wedding.

Mongolia

Brides and grooms in traditional Mongolian weddings wear patterned clothes called a “deel.” Though deels refer to Mongolian clothing in general and include a lot of everyday wear, custom deel garbs have been made for centuries that are typically reserved for weddings and holidays.

Portugal

Traditional Portuguese weddings are layered with old pagan styles and somewhat more recent Catholic values. The brides traditionally wear a full-length tunic, covering them from head to toe and adorned with lots and lots of jewelry.

Portugal

This jewelry has influence from a few different cultures – beads from the time of the Moors, crosses to honor the Catholic church, and gold in homage to the prosperity of the long line of Portuguese royals. In the past, these precious decorations would also serve as a dowry to the groom’s family.

Nigeria

Nigeria is a big country with around 250 ethnic groups of many religions and ethnic backgrounds, meaning that wedding ceremonies can be quite different from region to region.

Nigeria

But one thing that is true of almost all these areas is that Nigerian brides will wear brightly colored wedding clothes, along with a unique head tie called a Gele in most parts of the country. As is the case in many African cultures, brides and grooms in Nigeria usually match the colors of their wedding outfits.

Sri Lanka

On the island of Sri Lanka, east meets west in a way that is especially easy to see at a traditional wedding. Their heavily embroidered silk saris are shared culturally with nearby India and beyond, while their long lace veils show an influence from Europe.

Sri Lanka

Along with the sari and veil, the bride will wear a headpiece called a nalapata Grooms will wear a 4-cornered hat, a velvet jacket, and a long white waistcloth called a mul anduma.

Scotland

“An nglacfaidh tú liom mar chéile?” That’s Scottish Gaelic for, Will you marry me? If you’ve seen or heard of Scottish men in skirts, it’s not quite what it sounds like.

Scotland

Wait-wrapped clothes in Scotland, called kilts, bore the colors and emblems of the clan they were born into. On their wedding day, men in Scotland traditionally wear the kilt of their clan. After the ceremony, the groom’s family gives the bride a shawl in the colors of their clan to signify her transition into his family.

Indonesia

Much like the architecture in the region, most Indonesian weddings across many regional subcultures feature a lot of gold, featured especially on headdresses and jewelry from head to toe which results in the bride and groom sparkling literally all over their bodies.

Indonesia

It’s easy to see from its architecture that Indonesian empires had their fair share of glory and richness in the region, with many gold-adorned monuments. By wearing gold, the bride and groom as honor Indonesia’s past as well as its kings and queens.

Peru

Color is the name of the game at a Peruvian wedding. Women wear bright handwoven skirts, called polleras, and men wear headdresses. The bride and groom will both also wear a cloak, or poncho.

Peru

These decorations and styles are reminiscent of the powerful Incan empire that once inhabited the region and beyond, with their capital Macchu Picchu in the mountains of Peru. Peruvians even decorate their cakes in the same colors as their dress – as well as hiding a ring inside on a ribbon.

China

At traditional Chinese weddings, brides and grooms often opt for red outfits, as the color is culturally recognized as lucky. It keeps away evil spirits, as well as representing love and prosperity.

China

Like in many other cultures, they are dressed by their respective families. The groom will then go to the bride’s family house, but he will first be blocked by her chosen bridesmaids. Once she gives him permission to pass, the families join each other for a tea ceremony.

Sardinia

In Sardinia, the dresses can be very elaborate, with ornate details that display influence from all around the Mediterranean from Northern Africa to Greece and northern Europe, including jeweled stitching, a velvet jacket, and a long veil.

Sardinia

Unique to this island, there is even a special wedding pasta that you’ve probably heard of. Ziti has long been a local wedding tradition, with hollowed centers that can hold all kinds of pasta toppings. This was designed to fill up the bellies of famously large Italian families, who will all be celebrating, of course.

Iraq

In Iraq, a wedding proposal is accepted with rose water, cordial, and sweet Arabic coffee. Iraqi weddings are quite a long and epic affair: the engagement is known to take up to years even, and once the actual ceremony takes place, it takes 7 days.

Iraq

Just before the wedding week, the bride will receive gifts from both families including many dresses of many colors. Then, on each of the seven days, she will wear a different color for each of the seven colors of the rainbow.

Poland

Traditional Polish weddings are not hard to find today. Bridal outfits include a special veil/cap (welon) that has its own ceremony (oczepiny) during the wedding. The groom puts on a flower matching the bride’s bouquet.

Poland

During the ceremony, brides will move their dresses to cover their husband’s shoe – believing that this will give her a position of dominance in the relationship. Polish also believe that a bride can die of unhappiness, and the flower crown is created for her in the days before her wedding to manifest a happy, fertile marriage.

Caucus Mountains, Georgia

In the Caucus mountains of Georgia, wedding customs have stayed the same for many centuries. Many of their traditions reflect the warring nature of these mountains, where various groups of people have had to fight constantly for their survival.

Caucus Mountains, Georgia

The bride is carried under a four-post canopy to symbolize her protection, while the groom wears a sheath in his belt. Towards the end of the ceremony, the bride will be kidnapped by her family, in order to make the groom prove he’s capable of rescuing her.

Tonga

Like many other Polynesian islands and cultures, Tongan weddings are strongly symbolic of the environment around them. As can be seen from the hand-made attire from Tiare ‘O Patitifa, women wear a colorful wrap that covers their bodies only from the torso to the knees, while the men’s wraps will cover everything from the waist down.

Tonga

The priest who marries them wears a feathered headdress to symbolize the divine right given to him by higher powers, and the couple go to sea in a canoe to symbolize the isolation of their love from the world around them.

Greece

At Greek weddings, ancient pagan traditions are combined with those of the Greek Orthodox church. Older tradition demands that the bride’s family places a lump of sugar in her glove to ensure a sweet life, and a gold coin to the inside of her shoe to bring good fortune.

Greece

The groom puts a piece of iron in his pocket to ward off evil spirits throughout the day. A priest places crowns joined by a ribbon (called stefana) on the couple’s heads, representing their new unity.

Ukraine: Hutsul People

Near the border of Ukraine and Romania live the Hutsul people, who are most likely descended from the old Rus tribe and still practice many of their customs. At their weddings, they ride to church on horseback, and celebrate for two or three days in a large wedding tent.

Ukraine: Hutsul People

Their dresses are made by the delicate handwork of women in both families. Like certain other cultures, they strictly invite an odd number of people, believing odd numbers to be luckier because they can’t be divided!

Khazakstan

Traditional Kazakh weddings involve the bride wearing a headdress called a “Saukele.” This tall, conical hat is trimmed with fur and is the most expensive article of any wedding ceremony.

Khazakstan

For wealthier women, the upper part of the hat is often decorated with semi-precious stone, blue velvet fabric, or gold thread. However, less prosperous women tend to make their “Saukele” from cheaper materials such as satin and will often use less precious beads made from glass to decorate the headgear.

Romania

Weddings in Oas are an important event in the Northwest part of Transylvania. The wedding is organized by the parents as well as the bride and groom-to-be and various different rituals are involved including the preparation of the dowry, the costumes, and choosing the godparents.

Romania

The ‘fotă’ is the traditional wedding skirt that is generally made from cotton or wool and the maramă’ is the unique headwear that must be worn by the woman during the wedding procession. She is usually also adorned with a variety of colorful beads.

Philippines

The Yakan are an ethnolinguistic group that mostly inhabit the island of Basilan in the Philippines. Traditional weddings usually consist of two ceremonies – an Islamic one, and an older, pre-Islamic ritual. The weddings are arranged by the parents and both the bride and groom wear face paint for the ceremony.

Philipines

However, non-Islamic families tend to follow a more traditional Catholic wedding style. This also includes a veil for the bride and a rope in an ‘8’ shape (representing infinity) which both bride and groom wear around their heads.

Russia

Russia has over 185 different ethnic groups, and many of these have their own separate wedding traditions. However, many Russian weddings last for at least two days and some go on for as long as a week.

Russia

However, the most predominant form of wedding tradition around Russia is that of the Eastern Orthodox Church. These weddings look much like regular Western weddings do, except for the fact that the bride and groom wear a crown after saying their vows. This can last for up to a week!

Turkmenistan

In Turkmenistan, the traditional wedding ceremony sees the bride dressed up in a red dress made from homemade silk studded with silver or gilded pendants. Over the course of the day, the bride is expected to be quiet and not talk to her groom.

Turkmenistan

She is also expected to wear a red cloth around her mouth as a symbol of her piety. The bride is not meant to make eye contact with people and should keep her eyes on the ground.

Kenya

In a Maasai wedding, the bride is required to wear a bold and colorful necklace made of beads and shells. On the night of the wedding, a party called the “kupamba” takes place. During this party, the bride is allowed to take off her veil and show her hairstyle and jewels.

Kenya

The woman’s head is also shaved before the wedding ceremony which is meant to symbolize her new life in the wedding. The woman is expected to arrive at the wedding with all of her personal belongings.

Germany

In Germany, traditional bridal headdresses vary from region to region. In the Black Forest valley, the headdress is large and decorated with hundreds of beads and glass balls, while in Buckenburg the emphasis is more on flowers than beads.

Germany

However, the majority of traditional weddings are centered around the traditions that take place during and before the wedding. This includes a night for breaking porcelain as it’s thought to be a symbol of good luck.  Brides also tend to wear very minimalist white dresses with short trains.

Yemen

In a traditional Yemenite Jewish wedding, the bride wears traditional jewelry and an elaborate headdress decorated with flowers and jewels. These are believed to ward off evil. Gold threads are also woven into the fabric of her clothes and wedding celebrations traditionally last five to seven days.

Yemen

Traditionally speaking, a bride is also expected to decorate her hands with henna, much like Hindu brides. The bride is also generally confined to her parents home during the preparation for the wedding.

Bulgaria

In the remote southwestern town of Ribnovo, the practice of “gelena” involves covering the bride’s face with paint and colorful sequins. In a private rite open only to female in-laws, her face is covered in thick, chalky white paint and decorated with colorful sequins.

Bulgaria

The girl and her husband-to-be will then lead a traditional horo dance on the central square, joined by most of the village’s youth. A long, red veil covers her hair, her head is framed with tinsel, her painted face veiled with silvery filaments.

Vietnam

In traditional Vietnamese weddings, brides wear extravagant dresses, translucent cloaks, and a headpiece called a khăn vấn. The clothes are heavily embroidered and beaded with symbols that have historically represented the emperor, such as phoenixes, dragons,and other imagery from nature.

Vietnam

Early on in the ceremony, the bride wears no jewelry, and is bestowed with some later on. The family and friends of the groom go to his future bride’s home with an odd number of gifts, which represents luck for the marriage.

Tonga

In the remote island culture of the Tonga, engagement takes a somewhat unusual first step: friendship. Before any official dating can happen, the groom-to-be has to convince his bride-to-be that she wants to accept his hand in friendship – called fai kaume.

Tonga

Once he’s convinced her, he then has to convince her parents he’s worthy of engagement by going to her house and asking their permission to see her every time – called faitohi. If everything is a go and they become engaged, there will be an important celebration before the wedding called a fakalelea.

Khakassia

Khakassia is a remote area in Russia, which shares many wedding and other traditions with Siberia. Because their weather is so hard, their clothes are designed to be as warm as they are beautiful.

Khakassia

This is especially important since traditional weddings take place outside, specifically in the bride’s yard. Bride, groom, and their respective friends and families will all be bundled up with fur coats – though the bride’s will naturally be the most beautiful.

Uzbekistan

At Uzbekistani weddings, the wedding follows a ceremony of engagement, called a Fatikha-Tui. It’s performed with the permission of parents of a bride and groom. If the bride’s parents agree, they break bread together in a tradition called sindirish, which signifies that the girl is engaged. The groom’s family proceeds to pay for the entire wedding.

Uzbekistan

On the day of the wedding, the men first party in the morning by blowing two-meter-long horns and doing dances on stilts. In the afternoon, the groom and his male party heads for the bride’s home with song and dance, getting smeared with flower when they arrive.

The Huipils Of Mesoamerica

Throughout Mexico and Central America, many indigenous groups whose roots lay with the ancient Maya wear various huipils for different ceremonies – especially weddings. They are loose-fitting tunics, rich in symbolism with different mythological imagery like animals and flowers.

The Huipils Of Mesoamerica

Today, they are still popular in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Campeche, Hidalgo, Michoacán (where it is called a huanengo), Veracruz and Morelos.

Malaysia

In Malay weddings, grooms traditionally wear a long sleeved shirt and trousers called baju melayu, and brides wear a sarong over a long dress, called baju kebeya. They come in many bright and beautiful colors, and are usually embroidered with beautiful gold thread. They also cover their heads with elaborate cloths.

Malaysia

Before the official unification, there is a two-day ceremony called the bersanding ceremony, in which the couple visits the homes of both bride and groom and sit on decorated thrones, being lavished with blessings and gifts, yellow rice, and flower petals (symbolic of fertility). Then, the bride serves her groom a meal for the first time, called makan berdemai.

Vietnam

The Vietnamese wedding process beings with the proposal. The groom’s family visits the bride’s family to ask them for permission. In the past, the purpose of marriage was to create an alliance between families in the community.

Vietnam

Traditional Vietnamese clothing has always been diverse depending on the region and the specific occasion taking place, so wedding clothes vary in style. The fashion trend of the Nguyễn Dynasty has remained popular and is used for Vietnamese weddings both in and outside of the country. Some couples even alter the design to their taste.

Bhutan

Over the past couple of years, Bhutanese weddings have become popular among tourists. A Bhutanese wedding is much more than an exchange of vows and rings. The wedding represents the significance of the bond between a husband and wife.

Bhutan

A traditional Bhutanese wedding includes several religious rites performed by Buddhist monks. Along with the rituals comes the traditional wedding attire – the groom wears a gho, and the bride wears a kira with a scarf.

Native American Tribes

Each Native American tribe has its special customs and wedding traditions – but they all differ greatly from conventional modern weddings. The Native American wedding dress traditionally features four colors. Each color is related to a direction, black (north), blue (south), yellow (west), and white (east).

Native American Tribes

The traditional jewelry is mainly made of silver, and the jewelry isn’t just to add beauty, it has a protecting purpose against all evil things that the newlyweds may face in their future.

Traditional Celtic Dress

Celtic wedding customs and traditions come from clear springs. From ancient times till modern-day location is critical when it comes to planning a Celtic wedding. Clothing is a major part of many British Isle region weddings.

Traditional Celtic Dress

Kilts are still popular – Scots naturally want to wear their family’s plaid, and although groomsmen may not have kilts, their vests or sashes will most likely be made out of the same fabric. It is custom in Scottish weddings for the groom to give a piece of his family’s plaid to pin on the bride after the couple exchanged rings.

The Amish Wedding Dress

Amish wedding dresses can vary in different communities. In some Amish communities, the brides will wear a black dress matched with a white apron and cape. In other communities, the bride chooses her dress color but wears a white apron and cape.

The Amish Wedding Dress

Some brides sew their dresses, while others have their mothers or other close women friends sew it for them. Swiss Amish have many specific customs that are uncommon in non-Swiss communities.

Aboriginal Australians

Aboriginal Australians believe that smoke has cleansing and healing powers that can ward off evil spirits. They burn plans in a fire or use a smudge stick – the fragrant smoke is fanned over the people.

Aboriginal Australians

The tradition of acknowledging who the land belonged to and those who came before you is also thought to bring you good luck and start your marriage off positively. Bright body paint is another traditional custom that reflects the individual’s family, ancestors, and is a very spiritual practice, especially at weddings.

Handfasting

A Wiccan wedding, otherwise known as a Handfasting ceremony, can be held at any time of the year, although some days are considered special like the Summer Solstice or Mayday. Weather is an important factor in a Wiccan wedding as most ceremonies are held outside.

Handfasting

The bride and groom do not have particular outfits, but certain styles are seen more often than others. For brides, this includes long, light-colored dresses. The groom will most likely be wearing an embroidered shirt or a kilt.

Iran: The Persian Wedding

The Persian wedding ceremony begins with the Khastegari, asking a woman’s hand in marriage. The Khastegari is a ceremony in which a woman and man meet for the first time at the woman’s house with the intention of marriage.

Iran: The Persian Wedding

It is somewhat like a traditional date – both people can decide whether they want to end it with the first meeting or not. If all goes well and the two individuals decide to get married, the bride would usually choose to wear a light color that is not white.

Spain

A traditional Spanish wedding dress includes a lace headdress called a mantilla, which the mother of the bride will have embroidered for her daughter. The mantilla is a lace veil that is worn over a high comb called a peineta. Some brides decide to wear the mantilla without the peineta, directly on their hair.

Spain

The bridal dress will typically include fine lace details, a lace collar, and sleeves. Although most brides wear mantilla made of white lace, it is traditionally made out of black lace.

Sardinia

Weddings in Sardinia are a colorful happy occasion. Sardinians see weddings as an even that happens once in a lifetime, which is why it should be memorable. The wedding dress in Sardinia is just as colorful as the wedding itself, and it comes with many rituals, the wedding is an opportunity for Sardinians to showcase their culture.

Sardinia

One of the most common traditions is “Sa Razzia,” a dish of rice, wheat, salt, coins, and rose petals that is broken close to the bride and groom’s home’s door.

Zulu Tribe in South Africa

Like any other African wedding, they are known to be a vibrant musical, colorful, with plenty of dancing and feasting. But a Zulu wedding takes the lead in popularity, magnificence, and grandiosity. On the wedding day, the bride is adorned with white and red ochre, and bags of pebbles are tied on her feet to add to the rhythm when dancing.

Zulu Tribe in South Africa

She wears a veil made of beads and twisted fig-trees, ties oxtail fringes on her arms and knees, and wears goatskin on her neck. The highlight of the ceremony comes when a dance-off between the groom’s and the bride’s families takes place.

Saudi Arabia

Weddings in Saudi Arabia are, culturally, a huge and expensive deal. There is no religious ceremony, but instead, the celebration is a combination of an extravagant fashion show and a bachelorette party. The guests typically arrive at 10 p.m. The men enter one ballroom to hang out with the groom, and the women come into another hall to wait for the bride.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, weddings in public venues are always segregated, making them very private and intimate affairs.

Andean Wedding

In a traditional Andean marriage ceremony, locals gather outside to celebrate a couple’s union in the presence of their most revered goddess: Mother Earth. Both the bride and groom’s family have been working day and night, putting up decorations and preparing food. The bride and groom wear beautifully detailed traditional Andean clothing.

Andean Wedding

The bride wears a Montera hat, a sequined Jobona jacket, depicting scenes from nature, and – the showstopper – a beautifully detailed pollera skirt. Andean wedding ceremonies are known as a celebration of the two things they value most: family and Mother Earth.

Papua New Guinea

In some parts of Papua New Guinea, it is still customary for a groom to pay a bride price before the wedding ceremony. In some instances, this is paid in golden-edged clamshells. In other areas, an endowment is payable instead.

Papua New Guinea

Weddings are also an essential occasion to wear special clothing and is an excellent opportunity to show off glitzy accessories, like seashells and wear colorful face paint. The bride wears dyed grass aprons, open at the sides, and in some places, it is common to smear the body with mud or clay.

Datoga

The Datoga people are known as a nomadic tribe, residing in north-central Tanzania. Tanzanians still place great importance on traditional social organization systems in their everyday lives, and kinship provides a strong support network that is especially visible through all of life’s meaningful ceremonies.

Datoga – Tanzania

Interestingly, unlike many other parts of the world, for many Tanzanians, it is customary for the groom’s family to pick the wedding dress. Once married, the girl must wear a unique skirt made of thin leather strips, which is symbolic of fertility given by a Goddess to the Datoga houses.

Bedouin

Bedouin tribes live in parts of north and northeast Africa and the Middle East. The word “bedouin” comes from the Arab word “Badawi,” which means a nomad. The groom has to pay the bride’s father a dowry. He uses part of this money to buy traditional Bedouin jewelry for the bride. Sometimes the dowry includes animals like camels.

Bedouin

The cloth for the wedding dress is provided by the female members of the groom’s family. The bride’s friends apply henna tattoos on her hands and feet. This is known as the “laylat al henna.”

Ivory Coast

In the Ivory Coast, the government abolished polygamy back in 1964 and set the legal marriage age limit at eighteen for boys and sixteen for girls. However, polygamy is a widely accepted lifestyle among many native ethnic groups.

Ivory Coast

Although marriage traditions and norms are changing and becoming more Westernized, a vast majority engage in traditional native wedding rituals. The fabric used traditionally used for wedding attire is called Kente/Kita, which is very popular all around West Africa.

Samoa

Status is of the utmost importance in traditional Samoan culture, so people marry mostly within their social class. But once a couple is set to be married, weddings are paid for by both families equally.

Samoa

The reception takes place immediately after the ceremony, with the bride performing a traditional Samoan dance for the guests, called a taualuga. Girls in Samoa grow up learning this dance from a young age, in preparation for their wedding day. When the dance ends, the guests may be served food.

Java

Alongside a traditional sarong, weddings in Java will feature traditional Javanese headdresses, called a blangkon for the groom and a selendang for the bride. Preparation for the wedding involves a procession called a hajatan, which wards off an ill outcome of the marriage.

Java

Then, the bride and groom are showered with water by their seven closest companions, a process called siraman. After this, the mother serves a sweet called ‘dawet’ while the father holds an umbrella over her head, which symbolizes the cooperation that makes a marriage work.

Pakistan

One very longstanding tradition at weddings in Pakistan is the youthful status of the bride and the groom – no matter how few or how many decades old they are old, they will always be referred to as a ‘boy’ and a ‘girl’.

Pakistan

During the day of festivities before the wedding, the bride has oil and turmeric rubbed on her face and hands by her friends and family. The next day, it’s purported to make her look beautiful and glowing.

Estonia

In Estonia, being a bride is a very colorful affair. They traditionally wear intricately stitched folk dresses, paired with floral head-wreaths. Typically, the couple ties the knot at the local Office of National Statistics, but its more popular nickname is the Õnnepalee (the Palace of Happiness).

Estonia

In between the official registration and the reception, they have a wedding train parade, called a pulmarong, where all the guests drive behind the married couple. At the reception, the couple is presented with tasks to solve, usually related to building a home and becoming parents.

Fiji

Traditional weddings in Fiji are quite the spectacle and it’s not unusual for most of the local villagers to take part. The bride’s dress is fashioned from the bark of the mulberry tree which is essentially pressed into a thin but durable material which the dress is then fashioned from.

Fiji

The material is known as Tapa and it’s popular throughout Polynesia. The bride will also wear a customary Tapa necklace and the dresses tend to have long trains.