- Everyone wears pajamas or comfy clothes around the house, regardless of whether they've just rolled out of bed or have been lounging around the house all day.
- To go outside, older women (and some younger women, depending on where they're going) put on the traditional jellaba (a non-form fitting dress, either with long or 3/4 sleeves as well as a hood) over their PJs. The jellaba comes in all colors and styles - you can go to the tailor and have one made for you or buy one from the market. Most older women also wear hijab (cloth that covers the hair and sometimes neck, depending on how it's styled).
- Very few women wear abayas (robe-like, loose-fitting dress) and niqab (veil covering the face) in deep shades of brown or black in addition to the hijab. Most women I've talked to don't understand why one would want to dress like that though, as in most cases you can only see the women's eyes and it's hard to recognize them in public.
- Men have a traditional equivalent to the jellaba but it's limited to certain colors (shades of yellows and browns) and you don't see it around as much - only on older men, if that.
- Most men, younger women, and kids will wear Western style clothing most days if they're leaving the house.
- This clothing tends to be more modest for women - shirts are longer, and there is nothing low-cut. Tank tops (on their own) and shorts are not socially permissible. Some younger women wear hijab and some do not - it may depend on personal preference or how religious the family is.
- Men can wear shorts and tank tops out of the house. It is also socially acceptable for men to carry purses, although I've only seen some younger men with them.
- It's okay to wear the same outfit out of the house multiple days in a row, since you don't wear it literally all day as we do - when they come home, it's back to pajamas!
- At special events such as weddings, women wear a traditional dress called a taksheeta that can be adorned with lots of shiny embellishments and topped off with a wide matching belt. Men's clothing ranged from nice shirts and slacks to even jeans!
- Berbers have traditional clothing as well but it's not common for people to wear it on a daily basis. I've only seen performers singing/dancing to Amazigh music wearing it.
Of course, this guide overgeneralizes to an extent and really reflects the way people dress in Meknes - a smaller, more conservative city - more so than larger, more modern cities like Rabat and Casablanca. Everyday wear really depends on the region! Next week, we'll be traveling to Merzouga in the desert and I'm sure the way people dress there will also be very different.
Happy Halloween to all! Have fun and stay safe!