The tradition of women wearing veils dates back centuries and it crosses many cultures. In Islamic cultures where women have been subordinate to men, the veil may be worn even today to shield women's faces.

Veils were popular in European fashions back in Gothic times, around 1400, and before. Women covered their hair with veils for church or to show they were married. Fifteenth century fashion included peaked hats for women with veils attached at the peak.

A Wimple is a headdress worn by women over the head and around the neck, cheeks, and chin. From the late 12th until the beginning of the 14th century, it was worn extensively throughout medieval Europe, and it survived until recently as a head covering for women in religious orders.The wimple originally was adopted as a chin veil by Western women after the crusaders brought back from the Near East such fashions as the veil of the Muslim woman. The wimple, usually made of fine white linen or silk, framed the face and covered the neck and sometimes part of the bosom.

Ballet or Waltz length- Falls to the ankles and is worn with semi-formal and formal gowns.

The mantilla is a traditional Spanish garment, which has a special significance in Andalusia. Is a variant of the veil that was used for women in the religious celebrations, but actually is used by Andalusian women in great celebrations. In Andalusia, the mantilla acquires it main significance in Holy Week, being an essential piece in the great bullfight evenings too. During the XVI century, the use of the robe, then called mantilla de aletas (winged mantilla), became general in Spain, considered one more garment into the traditional dresses. However, each region kept a special appearance, in order to adapt it to the both social and physical determining factors. In this way, for example, in the coldest areas, the mantilla was used like an outer coat, made in different sorts of stuff. Some of them were adorned with glass beads, silk and velvet. On the contrary, in the warmer areas, were made in light and smooth weaves, making a garment more luxury and ornamental.

Elbow length - touches the elbows when arms are straight and are usually worn with short and /or informal gowns.

or "veil"), a practice that was inaugurated by Muslims and later adopted by various Hindus, especially in India, and that involves the seclusion of women from public observation by means of concealing clothing (including the veil) and by the use of high-walled enclosures, screens, and curtains within the home.The practice of purdah is said to have originated in the Persian culture and to be acquired by the Muslims during the Arab conquest of what is now Iraq in the 7th century Ad.Muslim domination of northern India in turn influenced the practice of Hinduism, and purdah became usual among the Hindu upper classes of northern India. During the British hegemony in India, purdah observance was strictly adhe

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Ballet Waltz, Chantilly Blonda, Holy Week, Blonda's Chantilly's, India British, Net Veil, Hindi Parda, Mantillas' Conspiracy, Muslims Arab, formal gowns, worn semi-formal formal, worn semi-formal, length- falls, tradition women, pouf veil, length touches, arms straight, northern india, usually worn, bridal veil, semi-formal formal gowns,
Approximate Word count = 1268
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)