Table of Contents
Introduction
When people ask me what to wear in Morocco as a woman?, I often always smile because my answer comes from a very different place than most travel bloggers. This is simply because I didn’t just visit Morocco for a week or for a weekend with a carefully curated capsule wardrobe. I actually lived there and worked there as a diplomat based in Casablanca, Morocco. Morocco became my home and my office and today I wanted to share what to wear in Morocco as a woman.
What you decide to wear as a woman in Morocco is a very different conversation depending on whether you are exploring the medina in Chefchaouen, sitting in a business meeting in Casablanca, or watching the sunset over Marrakech. All the cities and environments I have mentioned above are very different and they expect different attires.
So here is everything I know about dressing as a Black woman in Morocco. You can use this guide if you are planning a trip to Morocco and as a Black women I can say that if I found it safe for me to wear in Morocco you can too.
Read this post: What to Wear As A Black Woman in India
Is Morocco Conservative? It Depends Where You Are
This is the most important thing to understand before packing for a trip to Morocco and deciding what to wear in Morocco as a women – Morocco is not one size fits all when it comes to the dress code and I learnt this the hard way. Below are my realistic observations for each city:
- Casablanca is incredibly modern, so you can think of it as a cosmopolitan European city with a Moroccan soul. I lived here and was wearing short sleeves, tailored trousers, midi dresses. However, if I was going to the Mosque I would wear a long dress that covered arms legs etc. All of this was completely fine in Casablanca and I had no issues.
- Chefchaouen, Fes and other rural areas I noted were noticeably more conservative. When I visited Chefchaouen and was deciding what to wear I made sure to wear longer dresses and covered my arms. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to be respectful knowing that it is more conservative.
- Marrakech for me sits somewhere in the middle or cosmopolitan and conservative. When I was considering what to wear I knew I would be able to be quite liberal in Marrakech because the city is used to tourists so there is more flexibility, but longer hemlines are always a safer and more respectful choice.
For me in a city in Morocco when deciding what to wear in Morocco as a women the general rule is the further you are from a major city, the more modest, conservative your outfit should be.
What to Wear in Morocco As a Woman With The Weather
Morocco’s weather completely caught me off guard at first. It is cold and I mean really cold. The mornings in Casablanca started at around 7 degrees and then by lunchtime the sun would come out and you would be warms. I often had very early morning meetings in different cities across Morocco and I cannot tell you how many times I left the house in the morning freezing and was too warm by noon. I would say when you are thinking about what to wear in Morocco as a woman consider taking a coat for the mornings and evening and then having something light for the afternoon.
Morocco dress code for Women:
- Light cardigans and blazers for layering
- Breathable cotton and linen for the warmer parts of the day
- A warm coat for winter evenings (especially if you are going to the dessert)
- Comfortable walking shoes for the medinas
What I Actually Wore Day to Day
Living in Morocco meant my wardrobe was more adaptable than on a regular solo or girls’ trip. I needed outfits that were:
- Professional enough for meetings and official events
- Modest enough to be respectful of Moroccan culture
- Comfortable enough for me exploring cities on weekends
My everyday staples were:
- Tailored trousers which were perfect for work and exploring
- Long midi and maxi dresses my absolute go to especially for travel days
- Long sleeved dresses essential for visiting more conservative cities
- Two piece co-ord sets I picked up some gorgeous ones in the medina and they were perfect for casual days
One of the biggest lessons I learned about what to wear in Morocco as a woman is the overall transition from civil servant to diplomat is very REAL. Early on I was showing up to important meetings dressed far too casually because in the UK you can dress pretty formal if you are not meeting a Minister. However, I would say that Morocco taught me to elevate my style and I genuinely had to find my diplomatic wardrobe in Morocco.
What to Wear in Morocco as a Black Woman: City by City
Now what to wear in Morocco as a Black woman does not differ or take away from what to wear in Morocco as woman. Not at all. However, I do note that as a Black woman myself there are negative quotations of being more sexualised compared to our counterparts so I do want to write a section specifically for what to wear in Morocco as a Black woman for every city.
Casablanca
- Smart tailored trousers and blouses for work
- Short sleeves are absolutely fine
- Midi dresses and skirts work well
- Smart casual for evenings out
Chefchaouen
- Long dresses and maxi skirts
- Long sleeved tops and dresses
- Breathable fabrics for walking the hilly medina
- Comfortable flat shoes those blue cobblestones are beautiful but uneven.
Marrakech
- Maxi dresses and long skirts
- Lightweight linen trousers
- A scarf in your bag for visiting mosques and souks
- Bold colours photograph beautifully here
Fes and Tangier
- More conservative than Casablanca
- Long dresses and covered shoulders
- Comfortable shoes
Attention as a Black Woman in Morocco
I will be honest with you because that is what MBV is about. As a Black woman in Morocco you may get attention regardless of what you wear. However what you decide to wear as a Black woman in Morocco can switch up how much attention you get especially if and when you are travelling solo in Morocco.
When I wore shorter skirts I noticed significantly more unwanted attention like cars beeping or more people staring. Longer dresses and linen trousers made my experience noticeably more comfortable and I could explore more freely without feeling watched.
My advice for what to wear in Morocco as a woman, always opt for longer hemlines, especially outside of Casablanca or any other major city of that matter. You do not have to cover your head as a tourist or even as a resident I certainly never did. But covering your knees and shoulders especially in more traditional areas will make your experience significantly more enjoyable.
Shopping in Morocco
I did most of my clothes shopping before arriving and while I was in Morocco where I did pick up some beautiful two piece co-ord sets in the medina in Marrakech, which were affordable and so stylish. The souks are brilliant for:
- Lightweight cotton sets
- Kaftans and traditional Moroccan dresses
- Scarves and accessories
- Leather sandals
If you are visiting Marrakech or Fes definitely set aside time to explore the souks for unique pieces. Just be ready to negotiate on price!
My Morocco Packing List for Women
If you are coming to Morocco for holiday and need help on what to wear in Morocco as a women then I have added a quick list below:
- Maxi and midi dresses long sleeved for conservative areas
- Tailored linen trousers
- Light cardigans and blazers for layering
- A warm coat or jacket for mornings and evenings
- Comfortable flat walking shoes
- A light scarf for mosques and souks
- Breathable cotton and linen fabrics
- Bold colours (Morocco is vibrant and your outfits should be too)!
- Sun hat and sunglasses for warmer months
- Sunscreen this is non negotiable!
I also have a packing pdf guide which you can download here. You can get all these clothes from places like ASOS, PrettyLittleThings or your own wardrobe!
Other Helpful Travel Resources for Travelling and Living In Morocco
- Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for quick reels and more from my travels and life living in Morocco and other cities and beyond.
- Always check the UK Foreign Travel Advice before visiting.
- I booked tours via Get Your Guide but you can also use Viator.
- For data, I use Airalo (an eSIM) – grab it here and use my code ADEBOL5279 for a discount.
Final Views on What to Wear in Morocco as a Woman
Morocco is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries I have ever lived in. Dressing respectfully does not mean compromising your style nor does it ever mean boring. If anything living in Morocco made me MORE stylish and intentional about what I wear, especially for work because I just wasn’t dressing up to diplomatic standards.
My biggest advice? Pack layers, embrace longer silhouettes and do not be afraid of colour. Morocco is vibrant, warm and welcoming, and your wardrobe should reflect that energy! Hopefully this guide gives you the Morocco dress code for women and you can go feeling confident in your travels across Morocco.
Have you been to Morocco or are you planning a visit? Drop your questions in the comment section I lived there so ask me anything about living here.
And if you want to know more about my life in Morocco read: Is Morocco Safe for Black Women Travelling Solo?
Speak soon,
Adebola MBV x
