National costume or regional costume expresses local (or exiled) identity and emphasizes a culture’s unique attributes. Appropriate and acceptable costume is subject to changes in fashion and local cultural norms. This general usage has gradually been replaced by the terms “dress”, “attire”, “robes” or “wear” and usage of “costume” has become more limited to unusual or out-of-date clothing and to attire intended to evoke a change in identity, such as theatrical, Halloween, and mascot costumes.
