puletasi

{{short description|Traditional item of clothing worn by Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian women}}

The puletasi (Samoa) or puletaha (Tonga) is a traditional item of clothing worn by Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian women and girls. Today, puletasi is used as a female full dress. It is most commonly worn to church and formal cultural events.{{Cite web|title=Cultural Practices and Protocols|url=https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Resources/Yavu-A3.pdf|access-date=12 Nov 2021|website=Ministry for Pacific Peoples}}

The puletasi is a two-piece outfit with a skirt and a top, either with both pieces in the same fabric or as a plain skirt and patterned top.{{cite book | last=Mallon | first=S. | title=Samoan Art and Artists | publisher=University of Hawaii Press | series=A latitude 20 book | year=2002 | isbn=978-0-8248-2675-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iRAk3WLprBcC&pg=PA187 | access-date=25 January 2020 | page=187}} The skirt is usually a wrap skirt or 'ie lavalava, with ties around the waist.{{Cite web|title=Puletasi|url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1268604|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand}} For formal occasions or performance, decorations of tapa cloth, woven flax or other material may be layered around the waist over the skirt.{{Cite web|last=de Pont|first=Doris|date=Nov 2019|title=The Gentle Wrap|url=http://www.nzfashionmuseum.org.nz/the-gentle-wrap/|access-date=12 Nov 2021|website=New Zealand Fashion Museum|language=en}} In recent years, different styles and improvisations have been added.