Serbian Folk Costumes: A Colorful Part of History

In Serbia, traditional clothes called folk costumes are still proudly worn during national holidays, festivals, and special family events. These outfits are especially common in the countryside, where many old customs are still alive.

What Do Women Wear?

Traditional Serbian women’s clothing is full of color and decoration. Girls and women wear:

• Woolen socks that go up to the knees

• Nazuvice, which are long embroidered skirts

• A tkanice, a colorful woven belt to hold the skirt

• A pregaca or apron with flower designs

• Tunic-style shirts made of linen and decorated with silver thread

• Scarves or caps with shiny borders or coins

• Jewelry like bracelets, earrings, and even gold coins around the neck!

• In winter, they wear fur-lined coats and leather shoes called opanci.

Each piece of clothing is handmade with love and tradition, and some outfits are passed down from one generation to the next.

What Do Men Wear?

Men also have their own unique traditional outfits. They usually wear:

• A white shirt and pants

• A jelek, which is a kind of vest

• A warm coat made from wool or velvet

• A black fur hat like a shepherd would wear

• Leather shoes and sometimes carry a walking stick

These costumes often reflect a person’s region or family background.

From Folk Costumes to Fashion Shows

While traditional clothes are still worn for celebrations, most Serbian people wear modern clothes in their daily life. In fact, Serbia has many fashion schools and creative designers who bring fresh, stylish clothing to the world stage. Serbian designers now appear in fashion shows across the globe, and their clothing often blends traditional patterns with new textures, bright colors, and modern styles.

Learn Serbian Language and Culture Together

Learning about traditional clothing is just one way to explore Serbian culture. Kids can also learn the Serbian language while discovering fun facts about food, music, festivals, and more.

Dinolingo is a great place for children ages 2–14 to start learning Serbian or 50+ other languages. With songs, games, videos, and printable worksheets, Dinolingo offers a fun, age-appropriate way to learn—whether you’re at home or on the go. And with its special parent dashboard and gamified rewards, everyone can enjoy the learning journey together!