History Main / CultureEqualsCostume

* There was a time not so long ago when some authors put all their [[{{Oktoberfest}} German stereotypes]] (and maybe their [[YodelLand Swiss ones too]]) in lederhosen or dirndls on a regular basis in the honest belief that it was plausible.

** A WallBanger, since Hinduism and Sikhism are ''entirely different'' religions and about the only thing they have in common is that they originated in India. Even though certain Hindus do wear turbans (E.g: Mahatma Gandhi in his early years) they are different from Sikh turbans, both in their make and method of wearing. Also leads to the UnfortunateImplication of [[DidNotDoTheResearch not portraying Sikhism as an actual religion]], and the automatic assumption that all Indians are Hindus.

* Kingsley Shacklebolt's appearance in the film of ''HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' may be this.
** Possible example in HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire: Parvati and Padma wear saris to the Yule Ball.

* In AxisPowersHetalia, most of the countries wear a standard military uniform that reflects their background, such as America wearing a bomber jacket, Russia with a long tan overcoat (based off a Red Army overcoat) or Japan in a Japanese Navy uniform.

[[folder:Manga & Anime]]
* {{Ranma}} shows that it crops up in Japan as well. The assorted Chinese characters are normally seen wearing some variation of sterotypically Chinese clothing.
** Also does a variant with Japanese character as well. Soun and Genma ([[BalefulPolymorph when he's human anyway]]) are normally seen wearing martial arts ''gi'' and Nodoka is normally seen wearing a kimono to show how traditional she is.
* No matter where in the world he is, Goemon Ishikawa of ''LupinIII'' wears a kimono and hakama.
** Lupin once commented on how unusual it was for a modern Japanese man to be dressed in such an old-fashioned manner. Goemon calmly responded ''he'' was normal and the rest were the odd ones.
* In AxisPowersHetalia, most of the countries wear a standard military uniform that reflects their background, such as America wearing a bomber jacket, Russia with a long tan overcoat (based off a Red Army overcoat) or Japan in a Japanese Navy uniform.
* In {{Asu no Yoichi}}, Angela Takatsukasa wears a {{qipao}} constantly, contrasted by Tsubasa, who just wants to be normal and refuses to wear anything that doesn't let her pretend to be so.
** From the same series, Yoichi wears something other than his samurai uniform for all of one chapter while on a 'practice date' where they get him a normal set of clothes. He switches back to his uniform afterwords.
* In {{Hayate no Gotoku}}, Isumi wears a kimono, even disdaining the school uniform to do so, depicting her use of 'hand soap'. In one chapter, she even tells another character she needs to go home and change (into another kimono) before meeting the new kitten. The depiction tosses a lampshade on such event.
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[[folder:ThemeParks]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* Played with in a ''KingOfTheHill'' where Hank has to entertain a prospective propane client from Boston. The client expects Hank to look more like a stereotypical cowboy and has it in his head that all "real" Texans dress like that all the time, so Hank has to wear cowboy boots and a hat, much to his chagrin.
* Averted with Rolf from ''EdEddNEddy'', who only wears traditional costumes when some festival or ritual demands it.
* 'TotallySpies'' had an auditorium full of Russians in which every single person was wearing the same fur hat.
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[[folder:RealLife]]

* A token Islamic [[XMen X-Man]] Sooraya, code name Dust, wore a full-body black abaya. Possibly partly justified in that she was supposed to be from Afghanistan, although that doesn't excuse the fact that her power was to [[PlanetOfHats turn into a sandstorm...]] Not to mention the fact that her "burqa" was often drawn as ''very'' form-fitting, which is CompletelyMissingThePoint, and unfortunately her characterization under most writers starts and ends with her religion, though some at least had the sense to have her say that she wore it by choice and not because anyone was forcing her.

* A token Islamic [[XMen X-Man]] wore a full-body black burqa. Possibly partly justified in that she was supposed to be from Iran, although that doesn't excuse the fact that her power was to [[PlanetOfHats turn into a sandstorm...]]
** Not to mention the fact that her "burqa" was often drawn as ''very'' form-fitting, which is CompletelyMissingThePoint.
*** Dust is hardly a token member, apart from which she's Afghani, not Iranian, and she wears it by choice.
*** Unfortunately her characterization starts and ends with her religion.

** [[EagleLand Obnoxious Americans abroad]] wear Bermuda shorts, sandals with socks, and either Hawaiian shirts or touristy T-shirts/sweatshirts with loud writing on them. Sunglasses, stupid hat, and camera and/or cell phone complete the look.
*** Don't forget the all-important fanny pack!

** Though sometimes Americans can squeeze by with Cowboy or Pilgrim outfits

*** Dust is hardly a token member, apart from which she's Afghani, not Iranian, and she wears it by choice.

*** Speaking of which, [[{{Tropers.Xitheta}} This Troper]] was on holiday in France recently, and saw a man dressed in BOTH. Riding. A. Bicycle. Methinks the French have taken it upon themselves to imitate this trope...

** Mobsters will often trade the wifebeater for a wispy, loudly-colored tracksuit.

* To denote "Jew" in general, have them wear a yarmulke, or go all out and depict them in Chasidic or Ultra-Orthadox dress wearing all black, long beards, and long curling sideburns. While everyday dress for a small segment of Jews, the vast majority rarely even wear yarmukles except in services, depending on how observant one is. Alternatively, Hollywood insists Jewish Americans in particular are partial to the argyle sweater vest with long sleeve button down dress shirt and thick rimmed glasses, which tends to overlap with HollywoodNerd.

* Go into any Arabian country, from Africa to the Persian Gulf, and the men will wear headdresses no matter where they are, and expect women in ''hijab'' and figure-concealing dresses all over the place, if not burquas. While TruthInTelevision to a certain extent, like the "Jewish" example above, Muslim men and women can dress in varied ways depending on how observant they are, where they live, and what branch of Islam they hail from.

* A token Islamic [[XMen X-Man]] wore a full-body black burkha. Possibly partly justified in that she was supposed to be from Iran, although that doesn't excuse the fact that her power was to [[PlanetOfHats turn into a sandstorm...]]
** Not to mention the fact that her "burkha" was often drawn as ''very'' form-fitting, which is CompletelyMissingThePoint.

* Similarly, most [[ChineseGirl Chinese women]] don't actually wear the ''{{qipao}}'' (AKA ''cheongsam'' in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qipao Hong Kong and often therefore the West]]) at all, let alone on a regular basis, but for some authors, that's just what Chinese women wear.

* {{Armageddon}} had the Russian astronaut wear a ushanka hat and ''Born in USSR'' t-shirt. On a space station. Oh, and he was drunk.
** He wasn't drunk, he was crazy from being alone up on Mir for months on end. The hat and t-shirt still stand, though.

* Every adult man from England from the 1860s through the 1960s, must wear a [strike]vested [/strike] three-piece suit(with pocketwatch) and dome-top/derby/bowler hat, according to Hollywood. They all also carry large black umbrellas.

* Every adult man from England from the 1860s through the 1960s, must wear a vested suit(with pocketwatch) and dome-top/derby/bowler hat, according to Hollywood. They all also carry large black umbrellas.

[[folder:Manga&Anime]]

* [[http://www.ryanm2718.com/Golden_Rule_Rockwell.html That Norman Rockwell painting]] with all the people from all over the world. It seems to be a quick visual way of portraying diversity...through stereotypes.

* Similarly, most [[ChineseGirl Chinese women]] don't actually wear the ''qipao'' (AKA ''cheongsam'' in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qipao Hong Kong and often therefore the West]]) at all, let alone on a regular basis, but for some authors, that's just what Chinese women wear.

[[folder:Film]]
* Team America: World Police has national costumes for one delegate of each country to the Peace Conference.
* {{Beerfest}}
* {{Armageddon}} had the Russian astronaut wear a ushanka hat and ''Born in USSR'' t-shirt. On a space station. Oh, and he was drunk.
** He wasn't drunk, he was crazy from being alone up on Mir for months on end. The hat and t-shirt still stand, though.
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