Traditional Lebanese Dress Costume
Celebrate the rich heritage and elegant craftsmanship of traditional Lebanese attire.
Traditional Lebanese clothing reflects a rich cultural history, characterized by elegant flowing garments and distinctive headwear. For women, this typically features a beautifully embroidered abeye (flowing robe or kaftan), while men traditionally wear loose-fitting sherwel trousers paired with a tarboosh (fez). This guide helps you recreate these historic, dignified looks using modern pieces or authentic garments.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–150
Try it on
See yourself as Traditional Lebanese Dress
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Traditional Lebanese Dress costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Traditional Lebanese Dress costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Embroidered Abeye or Kaftan
A long, flowing robe with intricate gold or colorful embroidery along the neckline and sleeves, typically in deep blue, red, or black fabric.
DIY: Decorate a plain long maxi dress or robe with gold fabric paint or iron-on metallic trim along the collar and cuffs.
Sherwel Trousers (for Men's style)
Loose-fitting, baggy trousers that are wide at the thighs and tight around the calves, usually in black, dark blue, or white.
DIY: Use oversized black sweatpants or harem pants that gather tightly at the ankles.
Embroidered Vest or Kubran
A short, open-front vest worn over a plain white long-sleeved shirt, decorated with traditional patterns.
DIY: Add gold ribbon trim to the edges of a plain black or red vest.
Tarboosh (Fez)
A cylindrical red felt hat with a black tassel hanging from the top, worn primarily with the men's ensemble.
DIY: Roll red cardstock into a cylinder, cover it with red felt, and attach a black yarn tassel to the top center.
Tantour or Veil (for Women's style)
A traditional conical headdress worn historically by Lebanese women, draped with a sheer white silk or chiffon veil.
DIY: Roll silver cardstock into a tall, slender cone, secure it to a headband, and drape a long white sheer scarf from the peak.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Traditional Lebanese Dress costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Choose your style: the elegant embroidered female abeye/kaftan or the male sherwel and vest ensemble.
- 2
For the women's look, put on the long embroidered kaftan, ensuring it flows freely to the ankles.
- 3
For the men's look, put on a plain white long-sleeved button-up shirt, pull on the baggy sherwel trousers, and layer the embroidered vest over the shirt.
- 4
Tie a wide fabric sash or belt around the waist to secure the trousers and add a traditional silhouette.
- 5
Add the appropriate headwear: place the red tarboosh straight on the head, or secure the veil/tantour with hairpins.
- 6
Finish the look with simple leather sandals or flat slip-on shoes.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup classic and natural with defined eyebrows and warm tones. For hair, style it in neat, elegant waves or pull it back securely under the headwear or veil.
Traditional Lebanese Dress for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One partner wears the embroidered abeye with a veil, while the other wears the sherwel trousers, vest, and red tarboosh.
- group
- A group can showcase different regional styles of Lebanese dress, incorporating various colors of kaftans, vests, and traditional sashes.
- kids
- Children can wear miniature versions of the kaftan or simple vest-and-pant sets with a small felt fez.
- Plus size
- Flowing kaftans and loose-fitting sherwel pants offer an incredibly comfortable, adjustable, and flattering fit for all body types.
Tips
- Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen blends to stay comfortable during warm events.
- Secure the tarboosh or tantour with bobby pins to keep the headwear stable while walking or dancing.
- Look for authentic vintage pieces online or at local cultural boutiques for genuine embroidery and craftsmanship.
- Keep accessories minimal to let the intricate embroidery of the vest or kaftan remain the focal point.
Traditional Lebanese Dress costume FAQ
- What is the traditional dress of Lebanon called?
- For women, the traditional dress is often a flowing embroidered robe called an 'abeye' (or abaya). For men, it consists of baggy trousers called 'sherwel', a vest called a 'kubran', and a red felt hat called a 'tarboosh'.
- What is a tantour?
- The tantour is a historical, cone-shaped silver headdress traditionally worn by married women in Lebanon, decorated with a flowing white veil.
- How can I make a simple DIY Lebanese costume?
- You can use a long, solid-colored maxi dress and add gold fabric trim around the collar for a quick women's look, or pair black harem pants with a white shirt and a red fez hat for a men's look.
Did you know? The traditional sherwel pants were designed to be incredibly baggy to allow agricultural workers to move and bend freely while working in the mountainous terrain of Lebanon.