Morocco: and its beautiful garb

Even after  six years of living in Morocco, I still find it exotic.  It's one of those places where a single encounter or image can fuel my imagination for hours, if not days.  Perhaps that's part of the reason why my family and I decided to pick up everything and move to Morocco in the first place - a decision that put us on a tiled path that wound its way to the magical city of *Marrakesh* and to the little olive grove that we now call home.

And if I am intrigued by Morocco now, I can only imagine what it used to be like fifty or a hundred years ago.  Recently, my father gifted me with a first edition of the book, Costumes du Maroc by Jean Besancenot.  Inside hides a secret world. 

An artist, Besancenot came to Morocco for the first time in the 1930s and it was here that he did the 60 illustrations that are found in his beautiful book.  He writes of his fascination with the artful blending of cultures that make up Morocco's identity - the combination of Middle Eastern, European and Amazigh influences.  I think it's this very intermingling that makes Morocco and Moroccans so special; so evident in the country's architecture and design sense, as well as in the ways people live, think, and dress. 

Of course, not all Moroccan clothing is the same as it once was.  There is very little that separates the look of teenagers in Marrakesh or in Paris.  But sometimes when I find myself lost in the meandering alleys of the Marrakesh old city, or medina, I can still see glimpses of the Morocco that Jean Besancenot saw almost 75 years ago.  Let me take you there with me today.

Comments

[lacithecat]

Oh my!

Now I am speachless!

[Gypsy Purple--Chamara]

Oh this soooo lovely...glad I came by today

Gypsy

[that frolicsome kid]

I like how the girl dresses in the second illustration! She looks really mysterious and enchanting in a beautiful way!

[Dymock]

Those are fabulous pictures, a very good find! :) I really want a hat like the guys now!

[julie]

6 years...wow!!
Such stunning illustrations..im sure even more so in life.

[amirah]

so mysterious! great illustrations & thank you for sharing them.

[tongue in cheek]

the layers of beauty, covering their treasure. There is a sacredness in their style of dress that attracts my imagination more than how the western world dresses.

[Claire]

These are great. Thanks for posting them!!

[Alyssa]

Beautiful and very exotic!

[The Peak of Chic]

Beyond stunning! Those illustrations are incredible (and so exotic)!!!

[Regina Clare Jane]

Wow- why can't we dress like that?! I love the last illustration- she looks like an Oriental princess!

[Paris Parfait]

Just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing these wonderful illustrations.

[eyechan]

Hi Maryam! Wow, looks like I've missed out on quite a lot over the past week or so: so many magical images. And I really enjoyed your description of the effects caused in you by the pictures of your previous post:)

[Intisar]

Wow, I would be interested in seeing that book. There are some "costume" questions I've had for a while, I wonder if it will answer them.

Is the last one of an engagement/marriage ceremony where they pin her veil to the wall?

[Kalyn]

Congrats on being a bloggies finalist!

[carrie]

Hi. I found your site through the Crafty Fox, and I am so excited! I love learning new things, and I can just tell this blog is going to be wonderful.

[Bibi]

Thanks for the comments and congratulations to you too. This is a very pretty blog, and with many beautiful images (I love images) and information. Good work! :)

[pinkmohair]

Ooooh, as usual I am greeted with a feast for the senses. I find your blog so relaxing and indulgent, Maryam. It may take only a minute to read but it always perks me up and makes me look at things in more detail. Thank you, bloggy friend, for continuing to inspire me. : )

[Kim]

That's it.

I'm coming to Marrakesh.

[grasshopper]

So romantic, and continuously more romantic in surprising, lovely, specific and newly romantic ways.

[simon]

So, do you blend in? I mean wear what they wear? How do you find it living is such a different culture to ours?

Everything looks so exotic! I hope you can share some thoughts) :o)

[Laura]

I do love coming here, Maryam, and having my eyes filled with such color and life and exotica.

[julie at BV]

Sumptuous, gorgeous. What many people don’t know is that most of the times those women are wearing even more sumptuous clothes under.

P.S congratulations on your best blog of the day award. You deserve it.

[lottie]

Such beautiful textile illustrations - they are very Selvedge magazine-esque.

[Vanessa]

Oh my goodness!! I can not imagine how fabulous, to pick up and move to such a place! How did it happen? I love visiting you. I am always inspired and moved and wishing I was there!