In our global search for distinctive fashion accessories, we’ve arrived in the Dominican Republic—one of the Caribbean’s most vibrant gems and home to the oldest European settlement in the New World. Known for the white sands of Punta Cana, the breathtaking 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, and countless natural wonders, this island holds just as much beauty in its cultural craftsmanship as in its landscapes. Today, we’re diving into the Dominican fashion accessories and traditional garments that define Dominican style and showcase the country’s rich artistic heritage.
Dominican Republic Fashion Accessories.
The Dominican Republic’s fashion identity is shaped by vibrant color, island craftsmanship, and treasures found nowhere else. Its most defining accessory is Larimar jewelry, the ocean-blue gemstone unique to the country, followed closely by the luminous blue amber that adds an otherworldly glow to local adornment. And of course, there’s the chacabana, the Dominican take on the guayabera shirt. Let’s dive into the accessories that truly showcase this nation’s creative heritage.
Larimar Jewelry
Larimar jewelry is one of the Dominican Republic’s greatest fashion treasures — a gemstone so visually striking and geographically rare that it has become synonymous with the island itself. Larimar is a blue variety of pectolite, a volcanic mineral that forms when hot gases push through cavities in basaltic lava. While pectolite exists in other parts of the world, only the Dominican Republic produces the blue version, thanks to unique geological conditions. Its texture is silky and smooth when polished, with swirling patterns that mimic ocean waves; its color ranges from soft sky blue to deep turquoise, often streaked with white, cloud-like veining.
Larimar is found exclusively in Barahona, in the southwest of the country, near the village of Los Chupaderos. Its discovery has a charming origin story: in 1974, Dominican artisan Miguel Méndez and peace corps volunteer Norman Rilling found the blue stones washed ashore. Méndez named it “Larimar” by combining “Lari”, his daughter Larissa’s nickname, and “mar,” Spanish for sea, reflecting its oceanic colors.
In Dominican fashion, Larimar symbolizes natural beauty, national pride, and a connection to the sea. Artisans cut it into cabochons — smooth, rounded stones that highlight its marbled patterns — then set them into rings, earrings, bracelets, and pendants. Larimar rings often use oval or teardrop cabochons, making the stone the centerpiece. Larimar bracelets feature multiple polished beads or linked cabochons in silver. Larimar earrings are crafted in teardrop or round shapes, offering a soft, elegant glow. The cabochon form remains the most iconic, as it best showcases Larimar’s watery depth and natural pattern.
Many believe Larimar carries calming qualities, symbolizing serenity, clarity, and feminine energy. Whether worn for spiritual appeal or pure aesthetic charm, Larimar jewelry remains a captivating, uniquely Dominican expression of nature turned into art.
Blue Amber Jewelry
Dominican blue amber is one of the world’s rarest ambers, unique for its luminous blue fluorescence under sunlight. Mined from the Cordillera Septentrional, this fossilized resin is lighter and clearer than typical amber, glowing golden indoors and electric blue outdoors. Jewelers polish it into beads, pendants, and ornate rings, often set in silver or gold to highlight its shifting hues. Blue amber jewelry carries both scientific fascination and national pride — a link to the island’s prehistoric forests. It’s worn by men and women alike, often as a conversation piece or heritage symbol. More than ornamentation, it’s a living reminder of the Dominican Republic’s ancient natural wonders transformed into wearable art.
Tambora-inspired earrings, jewelry, and keychains
Tambora-inspired earrings, jewelry, and keychains celebrate one of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved cultural symbols: the tambora, the double-headed drum essential to merengue music. This instrument drives the rhythm of the nation’s most iconic dance, making it a powerful emblem of Dominican identity. Artisans transform its distinctive barrel shape into miniatures crafted from wood, metal, or resin, adorning them with traditional painted details. Worn as earrings or pendants, they add a playful, folkloric touch, while keychains serve as charming keepsakes. These accessories honor the heartbeat of merengue, allowing wearers to carry a piece of Dominican musical heritage wherever they go. Image Source
Sombrero de Caña (Cane Hat)
The Sombrero de Caña is a hand-woven hat made from dried sugarcane or palm fibers, lightweight yet sturdy enough for Caribbean heat. Traditionally crafted by rural artisans, it features a rounded crown and medium-wide brim, sometimes trimmed with fabric or colored straw bands. Worn tilted or straight, it shields from the tropical sun and embodies the hardworking, rustic charm of Dominican life. Farmers, musicians, and dancers in folkloric troupes all wear it, linking practicality with cultural pride. Beyond function, the sombrero de caña represents craftsmanship passed through generations — a tangible piece of the countryside’s rhythm and resilience, now appreciated as an eco-chic accessory in Dominican fashion markets.
Pava Dominicana
The Pava Dominicana is a traditional straw hat closely tied to rural life and peasant attire in the Dominican Republic. Made from palm or guano leaves, it’s hand-braided into a soft, flexible weave with a flat crown and gently curved brim. Originally worn by farmers for sun protection, it has evolved into a national folk symbol, appearing in Independence Day parades and cultural performances. Men wear it with simple cotton shirts or the chacabana, while women may style it with colorful skirts or dresses. Its rustic golden tone and handcrafted texture celebrate Dominican rural artistry. Today, the Pava Dominicana bridges old-world simplicity and modern island style, representing pride in local craftsmanship and identity. Image So
Chacabana shirt.
The Chacabana is a refined men’s shirt that stands as one of the Dominican Republic’s most iconic garments, blending tropical practicality with understated elegance. Structurally, it resembles the guayabera but with local nuances — typically featuring short sleeves, a straight hem meant to be worn untucked, vertical pleats or embroidery along the front, and two or four patch pockets. Crafted from light, breathable fabrics like linen or cotton, it’s designed to keep the wearer cool in the Caribbean heat while maintaining a polished look. The shirt often comes in white, beige, or pastel tones, emphasizing simplicity and sophistication. Traditionally worn for formal and semi-formal occasions, from government functions to weddings, the chacabana embodies Dominican sartorial heritage — a stylish fusion of comfort, craftsmanship, and national identity that has become a symbol of tropical tailoring across Latin America and beyond.
Guayabera vs. Chacabana: Tropical Twins with a Twist
A crisp, breezy shirt that screams “hot-weather hero” without ever needing a tie. That’s the guayabera and its Dominican cousin, the chacabana—two sides of the same stylish coin, two exotic shirts.
Structure & Shape: Both are built like a dream for humidity. Straight-hemmed, untucked, with vertical pleats (called alforzas) running down the front and back like tiny cooling vents. Guayaberas usually rock four pockets—two up top, two below—like a built-in utility belt for cigars or guavas (hence the name). Chacabana? Keeps it sleeker with two chest pockets, giving a cleaner, more polished silhouette. Side slits on both let your hips breathe.
Origins & Materials: The guayabera was born in Cuba, maybe from farmers needing pockets for fruit, maybe from Spanish colonial flair. Chacabana evolved in the Dominican Republic as a refined take. Both love linen or lightweight cotton, sometimes silk blends—white or pastel for classics, bold colors for fun. Think breathable, wrinkle-friendly, sun-ready.
How They’re Worn: Guayaberas go from beach BBQs to Cuban government meetings—untucked over chinos or dress pants, sleeves rolled or long. Chacabana leans fancier: Dominican weddings, political events, paired with slacks and dress shoes. Both shine in spring/summer, but work year-round in the tropics.