The Raikothin version of a del is called a dion (compare dionsan, "clothing"). Although traditionally made from qiviut (the wool of musk oxen), modern dional are also commonly made of imported cotton or silk.The Del is loose calf-length tunic made of one piece of material. It has long sleeves, a high collar and buttons on the right shoulder. The Del buttons. If they are not commercially produced from decorative stones or silver, are narrow strips of cloth tied into intricate knots. Each ethnic group living in Mongolia has its own individual Del , distinguished by its cut, color and trimming. These distinctions go unnoticed by foreigners but are obvious to Mongolians.
Dional come in every color, but white and blue are the most common. Most have a complicated color scheme, with trim, sleeves, and buttons in different color from the rest of the garment, and many use gold and silver (or other metals that mimic the effect) for trim and decoration. Fancy dional for both sexes usually have jewels or semiprecious stones inset into them, often at the breastbone area or along the shoulders. A few use the trim for messages or for illustrated stories.
The Raikothlin wear heavy leather laceless boots on their feet for walking through the snow, ice, and mud that mark their country. Like Asians, they always take their outside shoes off before entering a house; inside a house, they usually wear very heavy socks and sometimes special heavy slippers.
The necklace is one of the most important parts of Raikothin dress because it allows the wearer to quickly communicate information about zirself. The pattern of colored beads on a Raikothin necklace can indicate the wearer's home city, tribe, personality, marital status, and preferences in social interaction. More important still is the silver pattern at the center called the sigil, which is believed to hold a person's soul (in a sense) and which broadcasts a person's social role. Children, priests, soldiers, prophets, and government officials all get special sigils, while ordinary people choose their own from a common cultural vocabulary. The necklace deserves its own thread and will get one soon.
Thanks to the temperature, Raikothlin almost always wear hats. Taking off a hat is a sign of friendship and familiarity, and most buildings and some houses have special hat racks for the purpose. These hats sometimes look like crowns to outsiders: they have a firm ring, often fancy and covered with semiprecious stones, supporting a felt or woolen top, with flaps to cover the ears. Some hats, especially those for children, have strings and weights to help produce a proper posture.
Raikothlin of both sexes wear jewelery. Most popular are bracelets, earrings, and torcs (which can replace necklaces for communication purposes), but more commonly they will just wear clothing and hats with gems woven into them.
Here's a Raikothlin in traditional dress. The dion is relatively simple; formal ones would be much more ornate than this and have fractal-type patterns, but I lack the skill to actually draw those.
