the thob dhofari

O! Angela ees pretta girl, / She gotta hair so black, so curl, / An' teeth so white as anytheeng. / An' O! she gotta voice to seeng, / Dat mak' your hearta feel eet must / Jump up an' dance or eet weell bust. / An' alla time she seeng, her eyes / Dey smila like Italia's skies, / An' makin' flirtin' looks at you— / But dat ees all w'at she can do.
T A Daly, Between Two Loves

June 2007

Dhofar’s answer to the traditional Omani laysu (both now increasingly run over by the generic abaya) is the Thob Dhofari. What really sets this southern ladies’ all-encompassing garment apart is its rich prints and a back that is longer than the front, left trailing behind the women as they walk. In true Dhofari charm, the dress even comes with its own story. Legend has it that an Arabian king used to sprinkle a magic powder on the ground, and young women who walked over would fall in love with him. To escape his charms, Dhofari women donned a long flowing dress that swept the powder away as they walked over.

The real pride of the house is the special thob kept for weddings, made of black velvet and adorned with shiny embroidery. Too heavy and hot to be worn on a usual muggy Salalah day, this is best kept for special occasions, and may cost up to RO300.

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