Dressing in Morocco - teenage girls

[almondfinger]

We are going to Morocco over Easter.

I have a 13 and 15 year old DDs. Has anyone visited with teenagers and what did they wear?

I've told them that outside the hotel/Riad they will have to wear long trousers and t-shirts. It might be v hot. They are already complaining.

Are longer shorts and a t-shirt an option? The one thing I am dreading is the potential harassment they might receive.

Hmmm. While you do see some tourists wearing shorts or summer dresses, why be actively disrespectful to the local culture? Nobody expects foreign women in Morocco to wear full hijab (or modern Moroccan women, for that matter), but wearing loose trousers or a long skirt surely isn't that much of a big deal?

From what I observed, clinging/ fitted clothes are OK, but not bare flesh. Lots of young urban Moroccan women in skinny jeans, but nary a bare upper arm!

One thing I noticed in Morocco was that I didn't experience any hassle when I had my hair tied back, but on the day I wore it down definitely felt a shift in atmosphere and more stares. Wonder if anyone else experienced this?

I only felt the need to wear a headscarf when visiting a rural desert area.

I'd say long shorts with tshirts are okay, but try to keep shoulders covered and nothing too clingy.

Thank you. I'm very keen not to offend and have told them flesh on show is just not the done thing. DD2 will be fine, DD1 loves a tiny vest.

Skinny jeans and t- shirts it is. Pony tails all round!

We are in a resort in Marrakesh for the last 4 days. I suspect we will struggle to get them away from the pool. And that's ok, we will have done a lot of traveling by that point.

They can wear shorts and dresses!
The locals are well use to tourists and western outfits.

I pretty much go to N Africa every year and have been since I was 10 years old and have never worn jeans! And long blonde hair worn down. You may get a few looks or comments but it’s very easy to just ignore.

A while since I went to Morocco but knee length shorts/dresses and capped sleeves like t shirts fine. Went to Jordan more recently and you saw young women with headscarves and tight skinny jeans. Put some light scarves in your bag so you can drape them over your head and shoulders if you visit somewhere religious or sacred.

If you’re in a hot country and not in and out of water, light long sleeved clothing and trousers / long skirt is much cooler than shorts, and much less chance of sunburn.

Why not ‘go local’ and wear something like this? Sooooo comfy, I have 3 ans live in them at home (uk) in summer.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07QR34CLN?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Or if that’s too ethnic get some lightweight hiking or linen trousers.

I wouldn’t wear tight jeans in an African summer, no 🙈

Re harassment: women/girls, whether 14 or 44, in Morocco WILL be harassed and probably assaulted when outside their hotel without a man nearby who is obviously ‘with them’. So if you had any idea that they could go shopping or for a meal without a male companion, abandon that idea now. In the resort they should be ok.

Jeans will be too hot. I would wear loose, light clothing that does cover up but won't be too hot. It's not about what you can get away with, it's about respect for the local culture.

Honestly, my dd would get short shrift for complaining about something like this. If she wants the privilege of going abroad, then I expect her to show basic respect for the host country. If she doesn't want to do that, then fine... she doesn't have to go.

I think it depends where In Morocco you’re going. Marrakesh is very laid back. Just avoid short shorts and bras as tops!

Yes skinny jeans they will boil on hot days.

just get some simple maxi dresses and a pair of loose trousers to make it easier and stop unwanted stares. Although legally they can wear shorter, it will be more comfortable heat wise and to stop glares

If they wear short shorts they will get leered at aggressively - in fact if they really resist it might be worth warning them of the consequences and then letting them do it one afternoon (maybe carry a cover up) and see how quickly they change their mind!

H&M girls wear have sets in with wide legged cooler trousers and vests. They can just wear a cardi over the top or switch the vest for a tshirt, then the vests can be worn with shorts inside of the resort.

Wide legged cotton trousers and 3/4 sleeve loose tunics are actually the best thing to wear in heat, far cooler than shirts, skinny jeans and no chub rub issues as with dresses. Encourage them to have one more conservative outfit for the markets etc. around the hotel or tourist attractions it's less of an issue

Jeans are going to be unpleasantly hot . It depends how much you are going to travel around , I haven’t been since covid , but prior to that we honestly didn’t experience any harassment when travelling around .
Both my daughter and myself stuck with floaty tops that covered shoulders and lightweight trousers the further we went from the hotel area, in fact some of them bought from the souks there .
As a rule of thumb , the less touristy the area , the more you should probably cover up . So the prom at Agadir was fine in shorts , the souk needs a little more cover up . Being honest the most disapproving looks that some tourists got were from older generation ladies rather than the men.

Skinny jeans sound absolute hell. They will be really really hot!

Maxi dresses with a white linen shirt worn over the top will be your coolest option. I always take a light scarf everywhere with me for draping over head and shoulders.

And I agree, do not under any circumstance let them out on their own without a male.

Loose but modest clothing is much cooler than shorts and vests. It's not about harassment, it's about showing respect to the local people and culture. I hate seeing foreign tourists who are inappropriately dressed in Muslim countries, it's just rude.

I've been to Morocco and Libya without a man and never been assaulted in that way. Some ribald shouts from young men in Marrakesh on one occasion but quite ignorable. For some reason young locals shouted 'fish and chips' at us a couple of times but nothing scary.

Agree with what loads of others have said. Skinny jeans are horrible in that sort of heat. Loose and long all the way. The H&M girls stuff linked is great for bottom half. Something like that with a loose sleeve to at least the elbow. Better for heat, sun protection and not attracting attention.

@CaptainMyCaptain I also get the ‘fish and chips’, makes me laugh 😂

And never been assaulted or even close, despite solo female travelling Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan frequently.

People are massively over thinking this. You are going to a tourist area.

I've travelled extensively in Islamic countries (including the cities and wilds of Morocco) and never had a problem from men; on the contrary I've only encountered the consideration, kindness and hospitality due to respected women and guests.

I'd recommend they do NOT wear strappy cami tops, bare midriffs or backs, bra tops, shorts, or any see-through lacy fabrics.They could wear long light cotton
skirts ( like those hippy Indian ones) and a loose top with a bit of sleeve;
breezy, modest, considerate, and much more comfortable in a hot climate.

Skinny jeans In the heat sounds horrific! Just wear loose floaty wide leg cotton or other thin material trousers. They can wear a vest top and then a loose thin blouse over the top so they still feel like them but can have the vest top when in a safe area.
but the fact that we have to talk about covering up and having a male to not get assaulted is just wrong anyway

Early-mid April won't be horrendously hot (or humid). Apart from the coast and parts of the mountains, Morocco is mostly a desert climate, so wherever you are it will typically get considerably cooler once the sun goes down, then slow to warm up in the morning. You could get high temperatures briefly at midday (high 20s or even low 30s) but more likely your daily highs will be mid-20s. You'll all want long trousers and cover-ups like cardigans or hoodies or light jackets at night and early in the morning, so it may make sense to bring a variety/light layers and go more covered-up if needed as the girls get a better sense of what to expect.

In my experience, T-shirts and short-sleeved blouses are OK, but ideally you'd make sure shoulders, armpits, and bellies are fully covered (and shirts don't ride up to expose stomach). Shorts aren't remarkable, and longer shorts or cropped pants are OK most places. "Covered knees" are a safe bet and maxi skirts or loose full-length trousers will generally be comfortable for the weather. Definitely have some big, lightweight scarves as cover-ups if needed. Some cities like Fès and Mèknes are more conservative, as well as rural areas.

Other posters including me have said that they have been yo Morocco without a man. Covering up (nothing extreme like a burqa) is just adapting to social norms in that country. We wouldn't expect people in the UK to walk around naked like Amazonian tribes people. You can wear shorts and vest if you like but will get unwanted attention because it's so unusual.

When I was in Libya I took to wearing a loose scarf to cover my hair because long red hair was unusual and people stared. I even had a group of school girls in a museum ask to pose for a photo with me. It also kept the sand out when it was windy.

It absolutely isn't about covering up to not get assaulted. Frankly, if someone is going to assault a woman, they will do it regardless of what she is wearing.

It is simply about showing respect for the host culture.