Saukele and Kazakh national dress

The saukele is the Kazakh bride's wedding headdress: a cone up to 70 centimetres tall, sewn from felt and silk, decorated with silver plaques, coral, pearls and precious stones, with long pendants hanging from the sides. Tradition says a fine saukele was worth a hundred horses.

After marriage a woman wore the white kimeshek headdress. Men's dress consisted of the long quilted chapan coat, the kamzol waistcoat and a fur hat; a chapan is presented as an honour to respected guests at weddings.

Today national dress is worn at weddings, Nauryz and official ceremonies, and fashion designers bring Kazakh patterns into modern clothing.