Among the most common and distinctive of the dress in Ecuador are the clothes of the people in Otavalo, the people along the coast, and those in the rainforests. The men in Otavalo dress in a style that most people recognize as the traditional dress as they tend to wear ponchos, a fedora, knickers, and a long braid called a shimba. Many women in the highlands tend to wear a white blouse, blue shirts, necklaces and bracelets of gold and coral, and a shawl. Along the coasts the clothes tend to be lighter in weight for both men and women and in the rainforests this is also true, but here feathers are a common decoration on clothing.
Today the dress is changing among many people and in many groups. Many young people in the rainforests, the colorados in the Santo Domingo area, and people in more urban areas are leaving traditional dress behind for modern western-styled clothing. Most mestizos also prefer western-styled clothing and in cities like Quito this is the most common dress.
Most visitors to Ecuador wear western-styled clothing and this is what most Ecuadorians will expect visitors to wear in their country. However, the Ecuadorians are fairly conservative and you are expected to cover up; this is especially true of women, who should avoid showing too much skin, although tight dresses and clothes are commonly wore in the country. You will gain respect if you cover your shoulders, knees, and even your elbows at all times (expect when you're along the coast or in the Galapagos Islands). If doing business in Ecuador, the setting is usually very formal as jackets and ties are common and dark colors seem to dominate; black is always a good choice for business clothing.