Luos, just like all the other Kenyan communities have to a large extent been affected by the Western civilization brought about by the British during the colonial era.
Though majority of their traditional norms, traits and culture have remained intact, except those considered outdated, the Luo adopted a number of the new traditions, clothing included.
Unlike now when they are comfortable clothed in trousers, shirts, jackets and shoes, and are actually ranked among the most expensively dressed people in the nation, they basically wore almost nothing in the past.
By the 19th century, European clothing had already reached Luoland, but was yet to be adopted by the people, who still opted for their own traditional dress code and could also hardly afford them.
According to the 'Luo Visual History', the Luo were still basically naked at around 1900, with women only wearing a small piece of cloth to cover the space between their thighs, with the cloth being fastened by a rope going around their waists.
They wore traditional ornaments, with the top part of the body remaining exposed, a case similar to the men who depending on the age, either covered the lower part or left it exposed.
Young men wore skins which covered between their waists and knees, with their married fellows going all naked.
Both groups wore ornaments including bead necklaces, belts made of cowry shells, armlets and hippo tusk ornaments.
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