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1. List two trends that  also exist in the USA (and what country they came from)
2. Were there any that surprised or disgusted or made you laugh? If so which ones? Why?
3. Who had the "strangest" fashion in your opinion? Why do you think that?

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It is funny how fashion trends come back around. How many times have I heard my mother say "oooh, I had one just like that"? Designers have a good old rummage through the history books, desperate to see what can be salvaged, reinvented and remarketed as something so desirable, we just don't know how we have been living without it! The purposes of certain fashion items - born out of a practical need - have long been forgotten while other fads that seem so barbaric by today's standards, we could happily forget.

Here are 50 fashion trends around the world for your viewing pleasure...

1. Dishdasha

2. Miniskirt

3. Lotus Shoes

Shapewear gone too far? These barbaric lotus bud-shaped shoes were worn by women in China who bound their feet. Small feet were once considered beautiful and erotic and binding stunted their growth. The practice only died out at the beginning of the 20 thcentury but many elderly women today display terrible deformities as a result of this cruel fashion. Image: We found this upsetting photo on shoemethis.com.

4. Dr Martens

5. Kimono

6. Boubou

7. Clogs

The Dutch may have cornered the souvenir market, but Swedish Hasbeens are the ones who have dragged clogs in to the 21 st century. Unlike the all-wooden Dutch variety, the Swedish style comprises of a leather top with closed as well as peep-toe and heights from low heel soaring to slutty platform. I have never met a man who liked a woman in clogs. Are you for or against? Image: Thanks to the-coveted.com.

8. Pashmina

9. Espadrilles

10. Kilt

11. Pollution Mask

12. Dirndl

13. Mokot

14. Amish Hat

15. Mankini

Kazakhstan
Ok, ok so the shores of the Caspian Sea aren't exactly teeming with Kazakhstanis in mankinis. It's that naughty Borat, aka, Sacha Baron Cohen up to his old mischief again - taking cultural identity liberties! Image: We actually have a mankini that gets passed from pocket to desk draw around the HostelBookers office. Our Director of E-Commerce kindly models it just for you.

16. Babouches

17. Uggs

18. Panama Hat

19. Amauti

Arctic Region
Now he looks snug! The Inuit's parka jacket hood is adapted to carry a child and protect it from the harsh Arctic climate. It also means that Mum and Dad's hands are free and they can go about their day with baby on board. The bottom was traditionally lined with moss - in case of a nappy emergency! Image: From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, Photograph by Lomen Bros., 1906

20. Denim

21. Lederhosen

22. Cowboy Boots

23. Chamanto (Poncho)

Widely used across South America the chamanto is the name given to the poncho in Chile. Why is it better than a poncho? It's reversible girlies - so that makes it two-for-the-price-of-one in my eyes. A great accessory if you can't be arsed to shake hands with lots of people at cocktail parties too ( Frasier). Image: Thanks to worldsatire.blogspot.com.

24. Beardcap

25. Aloha Shirt

26. Fair Isle

27. Wellington Boots

28. Beret

Listen very carefully, I shall say zis only once...a popularised image of beret-wearers was in the television series 'Allo 'Allo by characters of the French Resistance. Along with stripey tops and onions draped around the neck, berets are a stereotype that the French just can't seem to shake off. Berets can be traced throughout Europe as far back as the Bronze Age but they were mass produced in France and Spain in the 19 th century. Image: Thanks to lilycharleston.blogpost.com.

29. Mocassins

30. Sombrero Vueltiao

31. Eyeliner

32. Dredlocks

33. Gele

34. Jandals

35. Ushanka Hat

These Russian fur hats are quite dead I assure you. Fur hats of similar design are worn around the world. When US President Gerald Ford wore one during a 1974 visit to the Soviet Union, it was considered a sign a Détente. Ushanka hats are so snuggly, they are standard winter issue for many police and military including Canada, the US, Germany and Finland. Image: OTT version from bryanboy.com.

36. Keffiyeh

37. Chullo

38. Chaquetilla

39. Conical Hat

40. Cork Hat

41. Tweed

It should be twill but a London merchant misread the handwriting - assuming it was associated with the river Tweed that flows through the Scottish border - and it was advertised as tweed. The upper classes thought it smashing for their hunting attire. Check out Tweed Run for a spot of tally-hoing on your bike! Images: Thanks to blog.stylesight.com.

42. Aviator Sunglasses

43. The Bikini

Paris, France
A famous mosaic of "bikini girls" exercising was discovered in Sicily and is believed to date back to the 4 AD. But it was in Paris in 1946 that cheeky Monsieur Louis Réard engineered - he was after all, an engineer - the bikini as we know it today. The two-piece bathing suit was so explosive, Réard named it after the Pacific island of Bikini Atoll; a site used for nuclear weapons testing that same year. Image: Photographer Bunny Yeager worked with the fabulous Bettie Page pin-up girl on a number of occasions. This photo was posted on theselvedgedyard.wordpress.com.

44. Duffel Coat

45. Leather Jacket

46. Jockstrap

47. Boat Shoes

48. Sari

49. LBD

50. Sombrero
Tell us your favourite fashion trends from around the world! Like this? Related posts:

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50 Fashion Trends Around the World - hostelbookers

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It is funny how fashion trends come back around. How many times have I heard my mother say "oooh, I had one just like that"? Designers have a good old rummage through the history books, desperate to see what can be salvaged, reinvented and remarketed as something so desirable, we just don't know how we have been living without it!

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1. What is one hand gesture that is acceptable in the USA but is rude in other countries?
2. What hand gesture do you use that you didn't know meant something else?
3. In what ways would this information be helpful to someone?

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Hand gestures are a great way of reinforcing what you're saying.

But caution:

They can mean different things in different cultures.

Here are 6 hand gestures - and what they mean - in different countries and cultures:

1. Thumbs up

This widely recognised sign of approval or agreement is actually used as an insult in Bangladesh.

In certain parts of the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly offensive thumbs-down.

The thumbs-up sign has been confusing people for thousands of years!

2. Come here

This is used in the United States to ask a person to step forward, but in Asia this gesture isn't welcome.

It should only be used to beckon dogs...if you do it in the Philippines you could be arrested.
Interested in learning a new language? Start today for free with busuu.
3. The horn fingers

In USA "the horn fingers" is adopted by rockers and it is a sign of approval, rock on!

Hook 'em Horns is the slogan and hand signal of the University of Texas at Austin.

But in many Mediterranean and Latin countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Italy and Portugal, to make this sign at someone is to tell them that their spouse is cheating on them.

4. Looking at your watch

This means 'I'm in a hurry' or 'I've got to be somewhere'.

In the Middle East, however, a conversation should run its natural course, as it would be very rude to look at your watch mid-conversation. In Arabic culture, once communication has started, it must "take its time".

5. The OK

In most of the English-speaking world, as well as in several other countries, this hand gesture means that everything is fine, great, okay and/or perfect.

In Brazil, however, it is considered a rude gesture. The most famous example of this was in the 1950s when Richard Nixon visited Brazil and flashed the "Ok sign" to a waiting crowd upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, who responded with boos!

6. The "V" Sign

This sign has two formats: one with the palm faced outwards, and another with the palm inwards.

In the US, both ways refer to "victory" and peace: protesters against the Vietnam War and activists adopted the gesture as a sign of peace. Because the hippies of the day often flashed this sign (palm out) while saying "Peace", it became popularly known (through association) as the peace sign.

In other places, such as in the UK, Australia and South Africa, the same gesture with the back of the hand facing the other person is considered to be an extremely insulting.

Next time you practice your new language skills remember to be sensitive with your hand gestures!

@busuu
May I ask what this gesture means? 🫰🏻#handgestures #culturetiktok #learnontiktok #languagelearning #edutok #Busuu #thumbsup
♬ Falling Angel - HCTM

If you liked this post, you'll enjoy our overview of Italian gestures and what they mean.
Truly immerse yourself in a culture by learning a language with our app, Busuu, in 10 minutes a day.

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6 hand gestures in different cultures (& what they mean) - Busuu Blog

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From a 'thumbs up' to looking at your watch - here's what 6 hand gestures mean in different cultures and countries. The truth may surprise you...

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1. What are two differences between the US's lunches and the others?
2. What do you notice even about HOW the lunches are passed out? (look at the lunch trays)
3. Which lunch would you like and why?
4. What do you think would be best for children in schools?

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Ever wonder what children are eating for lunch across the world? Take a look at these 11 very different school lunches and learn some fascinating insights into kids' school lives across the globe.
1) Japan
In Japan, 99% of elementary school students and 82% of junior-high students eat kyūshoku (school lunch).

An English teacher in Kochi, Japan says a typical lunch "consists of a glass bottle of milk, a bowl of rice, usually some type of fish, a pickled salad, some kind of soup usually with tofu and vegetables, and a piece of fruit."
Liquidindian

Emily

redtinsel
2) United States
Burger and chips! There is a group of retired military officers stating that today's school lunches are making the kids so fat that many are unable to meet the military's physical fitness standards.

The good news is that the Improving Nutrition for American's Children Act was recently passed, whose aim is to make school lunches more nutritional, encourage partnerships with local farms, raise the reimbursement rate for schools and force schools to set standards for vending machine food.

Jody Barnett
3) China
In Beijing, school lunches are typically provided by the school, who orders them through food companies supervised by the local education authority. In other parts of China, children go home for lunch which provides some important family time.
Micah Sittig 4) India
In India, school lunches are often provided from home. Ever the entrepreneurs, a food service worker called a dabbawalla has arisen to provide a service whereby they pick up the fresh meal from home and deliver it to school. The empty containers are picked up once lunch is over.

A typical lunch might be roti, (flat bread) a , and a vegetable or meat curry.
Sustainable sanitation kroopsydaisy 5) South Korea
Nutrition is an important topic in South Korea, as it should be. In fact, they've banned junk food advertisements aimed at kids, a step that would go a long way here in North America.

Pictured below is, rice, tofu, and soybean sprouts.
6) United Kingdom
In the UK, the debate rages on over packed lunches or school-provided meals. Jamie Oliver began a campaign in 2004 to improve the nutritional quality of UK school lunches.

His work paved the way for the School Food Trust, an independent body dedicated to helping schools provide meals that meet nutritional standards.

If you were lucky enough to experience British school dinners this pie and custard dessert should look familiar.

aburt
7) Burkina Faso (West Africa)
School lunches in West Africa rely heavily on foreign aid. 45% of the west-African country's population live below the poverty line and 36.4% suffer from chronic malnutrition.

The UN World Food Program provides meals to rural primary school children located in the arid Sahel Region - the most food-insecure area of Burkina Faso.

If you'd like to get involved, a Google search yields many organizations providing help.
8 ) France
A typical school lunch in France would be considered a gourmet meal in North America.

From a real lunch menu: cucumbers with garlic and fine herbs; Basque chicken thigh with herbs; red and green bell peppers and olive oil; couscous; organic yogurt; apple.

As stated at School Lunch Talk, the "mid-day meal is supposed to teach students good manners, good taste and the elements of good nutrition."
9) Thailand
EnjoyThaiFood.com conducted a survey of 10-15 year-olds to find out which were the most popular school lunches in Thailand. These were the top five:

1. Fried Chicken on rice - khao mun gai tod (16%)

2. Egg noodle soup with wonton - ba mee (14%)

3. Boiled Chicken on rice - khao mun gai (12%)

4. Lemon Grass Soup with Chicken - tom yum gai (7%)

5. Macaroni Soup (6%)

Intrepidation 10) Taiwan
Childrens' diets in Taiwan have come under scrutiny, with reports stating that the consumption of the recommended portions of vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods is on the decline, while consumption of unhealthy snacks and fast foods is on the rise.

The USDA found that students were leaving food on their tray, resulting in them receiving less than half of the recommended vegetable and fruit serving.
Toujia Elementary School 頭家國小 11) Italy
Italy has a law that enforces schools (as well as hospitals and other pubic institutions) to use organic and local products.

By 2003, 70% of Italian schools were using organic ingredients. Not only are the children eating healthier, but they are also learning how to eat healthy and sustainably.
thomaspetermueller What are your kids eating at school? Teachers - what are your thoughts? Post up your comments and let us know! If you liked this you might also like: Top 10 Places to Teach English Abroad.

[Sources: Wikipedia, BBC News, care2.com, thestar.com, CBS News, topnews.com.sg, usfoodtaiwan.org, The Guardian, schoolfoodpolicy.com, alternet.org, American Chronical]
First image: Chinese school lunch by kosmosxipo

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What's Best For Our Kids? 11 School Lunches From Around The World | Travel Blog - Tripbase

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Ever wonder what children are eating for lunch across the world? Take a look at these 11 very different school lunches and learn some fascinating insights into kids' school lives across the globe. 1) Japan In Japan, 99% of elementary school students and 82% of junior-high students eat kyūshoku (school lunch).

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Scroll down to view all the pictures. Make sure to read the information under each picture.
1. What is the most different from these classrooms and the rooms you are used to?
2. What is different about the students in the classrooms? (particularly from Argentina & Afghanistan)
3. List two reactions you had to looking at these pictures (emotions or feelings, opinions or questions)

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Look at the pictures of families from around the world (click the arrows at the bottom of the pictures)
1. About how much is the average amount of money (US $) spent per week across the world?
2. What country had the least amount of food/expenditures?
3. Does any of this surprise you? If so what? If not why?

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Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio traveled the world documenting that most basic of human behaviors -- what we eat.

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1. List two laws from different countries.
2. What about that law made you pick it?
3. If you could make a driving law what would it be and why?

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Strange Driving Rules from around the world | Visual.ly

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Around the world, each country have their own driving rules however some are stranger than others... <a href="http://www.autoglass.co.uk/Windscreen-re