What to wear in Morocco

What to wear in Morocco


What to wear in Morocco???,,
I'm sure this has been done before but I couldn't find a post dedicated to it alone.

There seems to be quite a bit contradictory information about how to dress. This is what I have gathered...

Men
Should dress smart & not show skin (no sleeveless tops, shorts and flipflops).

Closed shoes?

What about T-shirts - are they ok?

Women
It's less strict in cities but to avoid unwanted attention...

No low cut tops - but how low is low? Is it ok to show some skin if no cleavage is show?

No tight clothing - but hw tight is tight? Must it be baggy?

No arms or legs on display at all.

What about sandals - if worn with long skirt ankles will show...

No make-up - how bad is to wear it then?

However then it gets confusing because it says
Quote
Despite the stigmas, many "modern" Moroccan women will wear "western"-style clothes. Go out into any street of a large Moroccan city and you will see many women wearing tight shirts that reveal anything from the shoulder to the belly-button, short skirts and very close fitting jeans. Make-up and blond hair are very much in fashion


What about covering the head with a shawl? Some sites (& posters here) say yes you should especially if you have blond hair. Others say it is completely unnecessary.

How different is how a woman is treated if she is with her husband (which is what I will be), alone or with a girlfriend?

I went with my 17 year old brother, in Djema el Fal I was amazed at the difference it made having him with me from the times I was wandering around alone, in other cities I didn't really wander around alone so I am not sure what that would have been like. Generally though the hassle wasn't major and I usually just ignored it, my brother found it more stressful than I did.

Clothes wise I wore t-shirts, my boobs aren't tiny so t-shirts are never really loose on me, but they weren't really clingy and 3/4 trousers. If I was going to a religious site I wore full lengh trousers (many people weren't) and maybe a kaftan type top (but again lots of people didn't bother). In Marrakech I was quite shocked at what a lot of tourists were wearing (think tiny skirts and low cut vest tops) so I think they are more relaxed in what they expectto see touists wearing there.

I wore a bit of make up on an evening, didn't feel it affected the way I was treated.

As for blokes I don't think tshirts would be a problem, bro wore sandals but he does look quite young so not sure ifhe gets away with more than others?

Only time I felt uncomfortable was in the hotel bars as most women in there are prostitutes so I got a few sleezy looks but no worse thanI get in my local nightclub here at 2am!

Okay, Ria, wherever you got your information - you ought to write them a letter of complaint, because some of that is quite absurd.

Men should not wear sleeveless shirts (don't show their armpit hair), and shorts are debateable (only young urban Moroccan men, 20s and under, might wear them), but flip flops are absolutely fine, as are other sandals. Moroccan men tend to be well-dressed, so if you look sloppy, the only problem is standing out as a tourist. That said, you will not offend anyone with sloppiness.

Women should avoid the following: cleavage, shoulders (although I show mine in the summer, and so do many Moroccans), and legs above the knee or mid-calf (skirts should go PAST the knee, not to it). That stuff is the only stuff I personally consider to be necessary.

Ankles are fine, feet are fine, lower arms are fine. Neck is fine, but the lower-cut the shirt is, the more attention you will get (in my opinion, as long as you don't see breast at all, it's okay).

It's best to wear looser tops, as Moroccan men will of course (like men in most places) stare at the outline of breasts, and some women find it prudent to wear shirts that cover their bottom if wearing tight pants, but again, it's not necessary.

Make-up is FINE. FINE! Almost all Moroccan women over 16 years old wear makeup in some form. Lipstick is much less common, but kohl around the eyes is practically a rite of passage. Just don't overdo it (but seriously, why would you?)

DON'T cover your head unless it's with a bandanna or hat. There is absolutely no need to cover your hair; you are not Muslim and no one expects you to dress like a strict Muslim woman. I suppose if you're visiting some very conservative small village and all the women there are wearing it, you may want to, but in any sizeable city, I'd say 50% of women do, 50% don't.

As for being with a man, well...your husband will be addressed if he's with you, you will not. 9 times of 10, anyway. You won't get as many stares (particularly if you're obviously together, e.g. holding hands), but some men will still take it too far and try to harass you. I was with my husband once and a man cupped imaginary breasts toward me and said "niiiiice." By the time I got my husband's attention, the guy started pretending he didn't speak English.

Ria, I think you are worrying too much. You will see a little of everything, depending on which town you are in. Makeup certainly is o.k. and you do not need headcovering. But yes, I do think shorts for both men and women are inappropriate, as are sleeveless blouses for women...but I am sure alifbaa and the other regular female posters will chime in with suggestions.

Ria, thanks for posting this. And alifbaa, thanks for answering. I've been wondering much the same things -- it seems like the guidebooks are totally contradictory on the clothing for women question. It's nice to hear a straight answer from someone.

Why you all complicate things , You can wear what ever you want , Morocco is a country of Freedom and Democracy there's no Harm if you didnt wear the same as people do :)
But if your a fan of moroccan clothes then u will be excited where ever u go u had to change ur clothes , maybe from the north to the south coz so many tradition and cultures , Berber , Aouribiya , Jebala , Doukala , Sahraoui and more so u have to be ready lol


Alifbaa i dont think so all of our country men treat all the womens this way but only some of them , they need little bit to get sexual teaching in life thats all , step by step :)
So if some do treat women wrongly so that mean u have to change ur clothes ? Strange ! LOL , everyone has his personnality so if yours strong enough to convice that men or help him out to understand that could help and if u think u have to wear what we are wearing then go ahead :)
Peace & Love .Of Course we got freedom and democracy :) just u cant feel it if u are a stranger thats all :)

I've just come back from a week in Marrakech and Essaouira and found that when I was with my (female) friend I had virtually no hassle, when we went out on our own we both had quite a few blokes come up and whisper things to us while we were walking, usually along the lines of "hi how are you" but one did say something rude. On the whole, neither of us had hardly any hassle and thought all the reports are ridiculously overblown. We both wore long sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts all the time and wore a little make up as well - as other posters have said it's really hard to imagine why you would wear skimpy tops and things. Tourists who were wearing skimpy clothes seemed to get hassled constantly in the Medina, whereas we didn't at all.
 that's a nice thought, but having lived here for awhile, I can tell you that despite the fact that some Moroccan women can get away with wearing whatever they want, foreign women are subject to harassment ten times stronger. And of course it's not all Moroccan men who perpetrate this, but if we assume that at least half do (and it sure seems that way in Meknes), then that's a lot of harassment.

I can't feel freedom and democracy because I'm not Moroccan? Gee, I'll bet the Nichane journalists, who are Moroccan, aren't feeling it so much right now either. Neither is Aboubakr Jamai, who has apparently just left this free country.

I love Morocco, my friend, but please consider the fact that tourists are coming to Morocco to enjoy their time, not fend off hordes of Moroccan men.

I wore long trousers or skirts at all times and usually vest/thin strapped tops but with a loose cotton shirt over the top and always had a pashmina/scarf at hand. If I was on top of the tourist bus, at a rooftop terrace restaurant or somewhere quiet I would strip down to the vest top to soak up the gorgeous heat of the sun. When on the streets I'd wear the loose cotton top over the vest, and if I felt I was being particularly looked at I would wrap the pashmina around my shoulders. There were other women wearing a lot less and looked quite comfortable but I also saw women who were walking around hunched with arms crossed across their chests and looking very uncomfortable - I can only imagine they were on their first walk through the Medina.

I wasn't unduly harrassed, none of the men touch, but I found that some them can give a look that is so penetrating it feels like they're more than touching. It's quite unpleasant, paticularly when coupled with whispered comments or even just a sort of "tsk" sound. Unfortunately it's all done so slyly , softly and quickly that my boyfriend never saw it happen and for a time he thought I was being silly and over-reacting by wrapping myself up in layers and layers!!

Hope this helps!

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i spent 7 months in morocco.

i am a single women in my early 30. i spent 7 months in morocco. the people r so friendly there. and willing to help you with whatever u need help with. but be carefull when buying in markets, they also think that if u r an american u r also rich they will cheat u out of paying for stuff. so be carefull of that. also do not go out at night time alone. it is wise to have someone with you specially if u r in the outer citys. even in the big citys always have someone with you. i have been out alone at night. it is ok at times but then others it is not. this is why i say it would be nice to have someone with you. and if anyone is wanting to put henna on your hands do not let them. they will charge u a large amout of money. just to do it, specially in rabat. beware of the henna ladies.lol other then that the culture is pretty laid back. nice place to be. nice people. but they r curious and will watch this is harmless. dont be afraid to explore new places and have new experiences. i would not change this for the world. i had a good time. good time spent. i wish everyone well also. i will be going back soon inshallah.
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Moroccan travel company that provides private guide

 Hello, I am an American female co-owner of a Moroccan travel company that provides private guides. (I won't post my information here b/c I don't want to self-promote.) I have been to Morocco dozens of time and in my first visits in my mid-twenties alone when I was a lawyer in NYC. In general, the city is as safe for women as an average mid-west city in the US. The key difference, as many people have stated, is that people will approach young women alone, and they must just ignore them and keep walking no matter how persistent or friendly they are. The generally harmless, but annoying and a waste of time. This occurs mainly in the large tourist areas. It is a beautiful friendly country, and if there is ever a situation where a young women feels really uncomfortable, she can pop into a cafe, or ask almost anyone to assist her. I hope your daughters all have a fabulous trip. Please do not hesitate to ask me additional questions.
guess I should make that a little more clear -- I am hunting for the NGO to volunteer for a while if they would pay for my TESOL, and help me understand the country better. Then I could go on to work part time helping the entrepreneurs. (It would be nice, though, if I could find a way to work through the NGOs.)

I need to make some money, because I would like to save and eventually go back to school for my Doctorate. (My understanding is that college is only $500 a term.)

I don't want to be on Disability money forever, but I want to do some good in the world while this check can still follow me overseas, while it still provides this opportunity to not be as dependent on money, to do something that matters --to help people who have felt as I have felt, struggling to make something of themselves, yet crushed down every way they try. This is something I could do, insha'allah, that would empower both parties at one time.

So if you know any organizations that could help me accomplish these goals, I would be ever grateful.
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American woman who suffered an injury

I am an American woman who suffered an injury (though I am reasonably mobile) and I now receive a small Disability check ($700/month), which I believe would go about twice as far in Morocco as here. I have a degree in English and Communications and hope to earn my TESOL as well. In addition, I will be studying French, Arabic and Darija, during the next 18 months or so before I plan to go over.

While I am told I could easily get a job in one of the better-paying schools, I would prefer to work with adult entrepreneurs -- business people who didn't have the money to attend the better schools, who would like to more fluently market their goods and services to Americans on the worldwide web.

(My Disability check would enable me to work at a lower rate for people who couldn't afford the higher rates that other people must charge, but I can only work part-time because I tire easily.)

Does anyone know an NGO that would like to make use of my skills and interests, that could provide me with the TESOL certification?

And is my understanding correct, that $700 ($630 after money exchange rate) is enough to live on in Morocco?

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to move over to Morocco

 I said before does this mean he could then stay if it went wrong?

Trouble is - once he gets over here he may just become a lazy so and so having his gf slaving for him, this has been known to happen.
In reality, unless she can support him or he has some extra-ordinary skills unheard of in the UK he will not be granted entry, even if they were to marry in Morocco; this is my hope anyway as we have far too many stragglers here already.
How about if she were to move over to Morocco and become his wife and live there for ever more?


I am not sure where to find out this information, but my daughter (early 20's) has had a Moroccan boyfriend for about 2 years and goes over regularly to see him. If they were eventually to marry and he came here, and things did go wrong would he be able to stay then in the UK, or would he have to return to Morocco?
I have met and stayed with him many times and he is very 'normal', works hard, has a nice family and they get on very well he is quite laid back and they laugh alot, BUT I would just like to be more sure as although my daughter has nothing in her name here as such, the only thing he would gain is moving to the UK,

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two weeks holiday in Morocco

My boyfriend and I , had two weeks holiday last April in Morocco, which we spent 4 days /3 nights desert tour . It was a great experience because we had the chance to see a completely different way of living as well as landscape. Our Guide Mohammed speaks berber , Arabic, English ,frensh, Italian ,and he provides us with sufficient information about the country, people ,culture, religion, he also informed us what to do and what to avoid during our stay in morocco . We spent a precious moments with him . We visited the most wonderful places in Morocco ,Marrakech, kasbah Ait ben haddou , ourzazat, valley rose,gorge dades, valley todra ..After that he took us to the desert where we ride camels and spend the night in a camp under incredible starry sky …our desert experience was absolutely great!Our trip ended up in Fes . I would highly recommend him to anytraveller who would love to discover morocco in depth. Email is probably the best way to contact Info@tripstomorocco.com
A part from that a great choice!


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when good time to visit morocco?

October is a good time as the heat would have diminished somewhat, should be around 20-24C but one can never predict as temperatures at this time have reached 34C.
Whatever age you are you will be hassled in some way or other, by traders who have drones outside waiting for you. If you engage in conversation then you are sunk as they are very persuasive and will have you in their shop quickly enough.
If you do wish to buy something then you can do this in several ways; ask what the price is and then haggle from one third asking price, or less if you dare, and take it from there.
You could go into an artesenal which is type of co-operative with generally fixed prices but these are usually highly inflated anyway to cater for the groups of tourists who are led in by their guides. This will at least give you an idea of what prices are like although they vary enormously from one trader to another.
Language should be no problem as many people here speak English although you may have a problem with some taxi drivers who only speak Moroccan. Trust me, you will be fine in hotels, shops and restaurants and you may be surprised at how many people do speak English.
Shopping can be a bit daunting but do this yourself and not with a specialist guide who may find all the things you want but will arrange with traders to charge you very high prices so that both he and trader will make a fat profit.
Trips can be arranged through your riad or in any of the agents in Gueliz district which is a populous area for café's resto's, shops, travel agents. Whoever you use, be sure they have adequate insurance to cover you in case of accidents or loss of property. There are many things to see in Marrakech alone such as the world famous Jardin Majorelle which is easy to get to by the small taxis called "petit taxi". Most other notable sites are within the old part of town called the medina; this is where your riad will more than likely be located although the medina covers a very large area.
Outside of Marrakech you can go long distance to Dades Gorge or up to the mountains with spectacular views.
I can send you a list of typical trips from Marrakech if you like, I just need your e-mail

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