Booked holiday to Marrakech - What to wear when wandering around the medina etc?

[kaumana]

I know I need to cover up/ be modest in attire. Any ideas what I should wear that will also be cool/light weight as it will be very hot.

I'm thinking long skirts rather than trousers as I'm not sure if even cropped trousers might be deemed immodest.

[midnightexpress]

I've never been to Morocco, but when I was in Egypt, I wore a lot of long dresses and also silk trousers - loose fitting - they were great. I would think that in Marrakech you'd probably be OK in cropped trousers, but I may be wrong.

[QuimFabray]

A maxi dress with a tunic or cool cardigan over the top?

[barbie1]

I have been, all be it a few years back.
I just wore long skirts, a vest and threw a light weight shirt on over the top when needed.

Comfortable shoes are a must, covered if possible...some places are rather dirty and smelly, i ended up with black feet, covered in god knows what!

[barbie1]

Oh and the rule tends to be shoulders and knee's covered, so if you can get that mastered you will be ok

[TigerseyeMum]

I would suggest long skirts rather than trousers, as when I went they were very 'intrigued' about the fact that they could see 'the shape of my legs'.

Though it did get me a discount

They like their women to be women, but covered up.

[Selks]

I wore full length cotton trousers (like combats but without the pockets and more fitted kinda thing) with loose cotton tops, various styles, with sleeves to elbow length minimum. With the tops I chose ones that avoided revealing cleavage.
Some people wander round Marrakesh in strap tops and shorts and then wonder why they get hassled......

[LadyLapsang]

I went recently & had no problems at all - wore linen wide leg trousers, tunics and carried a linen pashmina for times to cover up a little more. Absolutely no hassle but I was with DH. Would echo comments about thinking what you wear on your feet.

[kaumana]

Ladies, thanks for all your advice.
Barbie1 - I will now reconsider wearing my white birkenstocks! (shock)
Tiger - (grin)
As I will be with my sister and DS12, I don't want to attract any undue attention.

[Selks]

It's Marrakesh - you will get attention and lots of it, but mainly from people trying to sell you things! (Just smile and say no, then no again... )

[kaumana]

I've had plenty practise in saying no in regard to DS, hopefully this will work in my favour...actually , who am I kidding , I'm screwed, I'll be the one paying for excess at the airport carrying rugs under my arm.

[TigerseyeMum]

Made me giggle, we went 'far,far into the desert to meet an ancient Bedouin tribe who lived a simple, traditional village life of rug-weaving'...but it was OK cos they take Visa

They tried to exchange a rug for my OH's watch and me, as I recall. I was a teacher at the time.

"You come to the desert, you teach me"

No sure what I could have taught him that he didn't already know...

[kaumana]

Haha I just choked on my Pinot Grigio, ancient rug weaving Bedouins taking Visa. Brilliant!

At least they offered your OH a rug in exchange for you much more practical than a camel or some other type of ruminant.

"You come to the desert, you teach me"

Fantastic!


Strangely have wondered in the past what my going rate would be in camels or watches for that matter.

[TigerseyeMum]

Well I was slightly offended that he wanted the watch and me

And he seemed quite taken with the watch as well

[kaumana]

Well, you are obviously a valued commodity

[TigerseyeMum]

I think I was sort of the free gift that goes with the watch. Kind of like the free Parker pen they give you if you make a will.

[kitkatya]

Ive just got back and it is really hot!1 Im so envious. I wore maxi dresses mainly or and jeggings with a long top/kaftan thingy over them. Always keep a scarf in your bag if you want to cover your shoulders up. I loved it, are you staying in the Medina? Bring some handwoven scarves back, the cactus sillk ones. They are a fiver max there and about £28 here. Le Foundouk has a lovely bar and is great for dinner. I didnt think much to the modern area, its all about the Medina!

[midnightexpress]

OP, if you're going with your DSis it might also be worth wearing a ring on your ring finger, even if you don't normally - it can deflect unwelcome attention.

[kitkatya]

Op I promise you that you will not get men hitting on you in a creepy way, I've just been with five women of all ages and we loved the banter in the souks and even the couple of bars we went in the blokes were friendly but not overly so. You will be fine, Im quite upset that Marrakesh is being spoke about this way as, it's so not like that. It's common sense really if you don't want to engage say "no thank you" and walk away.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

Trousers with tunics/short dresses over the top, leggings with longer dresses/skirts (knee length or just above knee is acceptable with leggings) but avoid bare legs unless it's a maxi length. Tops should cover the shoulders, not spaghetti straps. Round necklines are ok, you don't need to be covered up to the neck, but avoid cleavage at all. Clothing can be fitted but avoid tight. Moroccan women are pretty chic, especially when they wear western clothing. They don't think much of tourists in scruffy travelling gear :)

If you feel like it, buying a kaftan or djellaba for the evenings is quite a handy thing as it just goes on over everything and avoids clothing dilemmas.

[TigerseyeMum]

I disagree that you won't get men 'hitting on you' - you may well get youths on mopeds offering you things (usually 'waccy baccy' but sometimes other things) and they can be persistent.

But generally, if you deal with it with humour and a smile they will stay friendly. If you get cross they wil feel affronted.

I didn't mind Morocco but my OH found it wearing and like he was being 'sold to' all the time. He just wanted to be left alone.

[kitkatya]

I loved it. I think it's a girly destination. We had no hassle at all. Clearly too old then!

[kaumana]

Tiger - freebie pen, I like it

Right, I think I've got my shopping list sorted. Will have to check out the threads re maxi dresses which will cover up my not so small bosom, challenge...

Eric - I think I may be rocking the 70s vibe by sound of things. Kind of like the idea of swanning around in a kaftan would certainly be a change to my normal gear here in Edinburgh.

Midnight - Will also buy a cheap gold band just in case.

Kitkatya - thanks for the tips

[kitkatya]

Honestly you don't have to pretend to be married!! Isn't that bad luck to wear a ring on your wedding finger if you aren't married? I don't know where you lot went but it doesn't sound like the place I was in five days ago!

[kaumana]

Not sure about wearing a ring when you're not married bringing you bad luck kind of went the other way for me but I take your point.

[kitkatya]

You might come back with one on!