Traditional Filipino Dress for Women: Baro't Saya, Maria Clara and Terno

Three names come up again and again when people talk about traditional Filipino dress for women. They are related, but each comes from a different moment in history.

Baro't saya

The baro't saya, blouse and skirt, is the root of them all. A collarless blouse, often sheer and made of piña or jusi, is worn with a long skirt, sometimes with a tapis wrapped over the skirt and a panuelo draped over the shoulders.

Maria Clara

Named after the heroine of Jose Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere, the Maria Clara gown is a more formal, more covered version of the baro't saya. It became a symbol of the idealized Filipina of the 19th century.

Terno

The terno is the 20th-century evolution: a one-piece gown with dramatic, stiff butterfly sleeves. It is the dress most people picture when they hear 'Filipiniana,' and it still appears on red carpets and at formal state events.

Modern takes

Designers today mix these elements into cocktail dresses, jumpsuits and even jackets. Butterfly sleeves on a casual top, or a panuelo-inspired scarf, can nod to the tradition without a full gown.

Wear the story

Want a casual way to rep the culture? Browse UGAT's heritage streetwear. UGAT means roots. Know yours.

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