Clothing facts

In Bermuda. Bermuda shorts were first introduced in Bermuda's business circle, when general managers of The Bank of Bermuda and Butterfield Bank were quite concerned that their male employees may not have appropriate attire to wear because of clothing shortages. They appointed a tailor to make shorts similar to what the British Navy and Army were using. Today, Bermuda businessmen wear ties, jackets and Bermuda shorts together.

Royal Navy. Bermuda shorts originated with the British Army for wear in tropical and desert climates. On Royal Navy ships visiting warm waters, officers and men always wear white shorts, white knee length socks and white laced shoes.

Morocco. The name of fez comes from the city of Fes, Morocco, where it became fashionable among Andalusian Arabs in the 17th century. The fez got widely popular in the Ottoman Empire after 1829, when Sultan Mahmud II ordered his civil officials to wear the plain fez, and also banned the wearing of turbans.

Italy. These are chopines, platform shoes that were popular in Italy, especially Venice, during the Renaissance. Chopines became an article of women's fashion and were made increasingly taller; some extant examples are over 20 inches (50 cm) high.

Andalusia. In Spain, every autonomous region has its own national costume.

Dutch bonnet is a style of woman's hat that is sometimes characterized by triangular flaps or wings that turn up on either side.

Japan. Okobo is wooden sandals worn by maiko (apprentice geisha) during their apprenticeship. These sandals are very practical, keeping the expensive kimono off the ground.