Liqui liqui

File:Liqui-liqui (cropped).jpg

The ( in Spanish) is the national costume for men in Venezuela

It is traditionally white, beige, cream or ecru, although it is available in other colors. Recently, have been worn by famous personalities in Venezuela for their weddings, in a renaissance of traditional dress – for example, Venezuelan folk musician Simón Díaz was known to almost always wear one. The is traditionally made of linen or cotton cloth, although gabardine and wool can be used. The outfit is made up of a pair of full-length trousers and a jacket. The jacket has long sleeves and a rounded Nehru-style collar, which is fastened and decorated by a (chain link similar to a cufflink), which joins the two ends of the collar. The jacket is fastened by five or six buttons, and may or may not have pockets (if so, no more than four). Overall, the outfit is very simple with clean, elegant lines. Traditionally, the is worn with alpargata – an open-toed sandal – and a llanero hat.

Because of the style of the collar, it is said that the was brought to Venezuela from the Philippines, although this is uncertain. The more accepted version is that the is derived from the uniform of colonial-era soldiers, whose jacket or had a similar shape – hence the name and the collar.

Contemporary Interpretations

In 2024, Venezuelan fashion designer Nabel Martins was invited by the Venezuelan delegation to UNESCO in Paris to participate in Latin America and Caribbean Week, where she presented a modern women's reinterpretation of the Liqui liqui named 'Paz', blending traditional elements of Venezuela’s national formal attire with contemporary fashion sensibilities.