Bullfighting is an art full of passion and tradition, where every detail has a deep meaning. And one of the most iconic and dazzling elements that give life to this bullfighting dance is the majestic “traje de luces”. Behind its brightness and color lies an authentic masterpiece that deserves to be admired and understood in all its essence. In this post we will see the different parts and elements that make up a traditional Spanish bullfighter costume.
1.The montera

It is the iconic round hat that the bullfighter wears on his head. It is a sample of elegance and tradition, although nowadays it is used mainly as an ornament, since the bullfighter wears a protective helmet underneath.
2. Bullfighter jacket

It is the upper part of the costume and is often embroidered with gold or silver thread. The embroideries sometimes include bullfighting motifs or symbols that represent the bullfighter.
3. White shirt

The shirt is an essential element in every bullfighting costume. Normally they have some embroidery on the front and visible since the jacket reveals the shirt.
4. Tie

It is very similar to a conventional tie but this time it is somewhat shorter and thinner to facilitate the bullfighter’s movements.
6. Taleguilla

The satchel or breeches are the lower part of the suit (trousers). They are generally tight as they are custom made and are usually black, white or navy blue.
7. Stockings

Finally we find the stockings that are always pink and have some decorative detail. They must be high to be able to cover up to the knee since the satchel is short.
Other bullfighting accessories
Despite having seen the most important parts of a bullfighter costume, we can find other extremely important accessories such as the following:
Shoulder pads

The shoulder pads, as their name indicates, are placed on the bullfighter jackets at shoulder height. All of them are decorated with handmade embroidery, decorative stones and lights.
Alamares

The Alamares are one of the most characteristic symbols of the bullfighter costume. They are usually placed mainly on the jacket, although sometimes it is also included on the pants.
Machos

Like the shoulder pads, the males are another part of the bullfighting costume that is used as a decorative element. They can be silver, gold and black as a general rule.
Manoletinas

The Manoletillas are the typical shoes that all bullfighters wear. They are all black in color and have an opening at the top.