Mostly in the Round

This image was taken in Istanbul Turkey outside an ancient mosque. A local man Hamdi dresses as a traditional Turkish citizen for the tourists. He carries a wooden spoon in one hand and what appear to be giant worry beads in the other. He sports a white beard and a Santa Claus like red and white turbanCommon items are the salvar (baggy trouser), gomlek (chemise),ucetek (three-skirted cloak), and elaborate headgear Sleeveless vests and waist-length jackets are also common. The layers are held together by a girdle or belt, or by a shawl (sal kusak) that is folded and wrapped around the waist. With the exception of the face, the body completely covered. Portions of the men’s body are left exposed, such as the head, face, and neck, with the exception of a headdress. Turkish traditional dress was relatively unisex, but certain distinguishing features clearly indicated gender. Primary among these was the style of headdress. In the Ottoman court, male headdress distinguished social and economic positions. Head-dresses such as the turban, used throughout the Ottoman empire from before the Turks’ capture of Constantinople in 1453 to the early nineteenth century

Davidoff photography Courtesy Ashley Davidoff Copyright 2011 99229p.8