Mongolian dress has changed little since the days of the empire, because it is supremely well-adapted to the conditions of life on the steppe. The deel, or kaftan, is the Mongolian traditional garment worn both on workdays as well on special days. Each ethnic group has its own deel design distinguished by cut, color, and trimming. Before the revolution, all social strata had their own manner of dressing. The deel is a long, loose gown cut in one piece with the sleeves; it has a high collar and widely overlaps at the front. It is girdled with a sash, which isn't simply adornment, but serves as a soft corset facilitating long riders on horse back. The deels always close on the wearer's right and traditionally have five fastenings. Modern deels often have decoratively cut overflaps, small round necklines, and sometimes contain a Mandarin collar, which starts at the neckline and rise vertically few centimeters. The deel has wide, cup-shaped sleeves nicknamed "hooves", which protect the hands from the cold and from injures while doing hard work. There are basically three types of deels, each worn during a particular season. The Dan Deel is made of light, thinks bright materials and is worn by women during the late spring and summer. The Terleg is a slightly more padded version worn by both men and women. The winter deel is serious, padded tunic lined with sheep skin, or layers of row cotton.
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