Climate Chic: Fashions From Around the World

When it comes to fashion, weather plays an important role in determining how we dress. People have to deal with everything from snow to rain to the humid heat of the tropics, not to mention regularly changing seasons in much of the world. But climate isn't the only consideration when it comes to deciding what to wear. The choice to put on sunscreen before going to the beach or carry an umbrella if it's drizzling has as much to do with other societal factors as it does weather.

"We know that weather and how people dress aren't always exactly related, because in some places, if there is a strong religious overlay, people will cover themselves even when it's very hot," said Joanne Eicher, editor in chief of the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion. "For example, for people who are really committed to being Islamic, a woman will wear something that covers her totally because she's committed to her religion." 

In the slideshow above, women from Afghanistan are seen wearing full covering despite the heat. There are also many other examples of how weather and culture have impacted clothing styles around the world. 

Sometimes people will dress in ways that seem counter to the weather just because it's more fashionable, Eicher added. She said examples of this can be seen in teenage boys not wearing snow boots in the wintertime, and in the origins of Ugg Boots. These sheepskin boots, now commonly used in snow and cold weather, were first created in Australia and came to the United States via the beaches of California, despite the fact that the climate in both of those locations is warm. 

"Fashion isn't really a matter of being vain or overly preoccupied with self, it's a part of being socialized," Eicher said. "For many people, fashion is really about fitting in."

Besides weather and religion, other factors that impact fashion include age, gender, wealth, status, and technology. New technology for producing different synthetic textiles has radically changed the material clothing is made from. Eicher said that in the past, people had to rely on natural materials to make clothing. Large leaves, fish scales and even the intestine of large sea mammals could be employed to make raincoats. The latter, known as "gutskin parkas," were commonly used among Inuit and Eskimo people during periods of wet weather or for ocean travel, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Today, many raincoats are made of vinyl or microfiber. 

Whether our fashion will change even more as a response to climate change is impossible to predict, but it's certain that weather and culture will continue to influence what we wear. 

MORE FROM WEATHER.COM: Rare Vintage Beach Photos