Walking around the UN, I see people from many different places; my cultural exposure has increased since being at this international event. Aside from the serious issues being discussed at the UN building, New York is still a city inundated with haute couture, super models, movie stars and beautiful people. And the question inevitably arises. "What are people wearing at the UN?"

The UN is one place where, since it's an international event, all cultures are embraced and welcomed. And truly somewhere where anything goes. "I live in America. At home and to school I wear jeans, but at an international event like this one, I feel comfortable wearing traditional pakistani clothing," said Rabya Nizam. (Rabya is wearing a garment called Shalwar Kameez. It's a long tunic over a long skirt, made of thin, airy fabric.) "The UN is one place people are comfortable and proud to show their culture and heritage."

Indonesian youth delegate Shanthi Sachithanandam wears a head covering called a "jilbab" (in Indonesian) or "hijab" (in arabic). She is Muslim and wears it as part of her religion. "Every Muslim woman must wear the hijab to cover their hair and must dress modestly," said Sachithanandam. "It is believed that after maturity women don't tell the difference between good and bad and this is for our protection." She likes to wear her traditional clothing because she believes that by hiding the body and hair, men, and even other women won't judge her for her beauty, but for her mind.

On the island of Samoa in the South Pacific, tatoos are considered a form of clothing. Garments are designed around the tatoos to let their beauty show. Vaasili Moelagi Jackson wears a "puletasi".

It's a long wraparound skirt and a separate tunic made of light material. When she walks, the skirt brushes aside to reveal the large tattoo on her leg. The women always wear clothes made out of flowered material. "The flowers are a symbol of our rich soil and celebrate the beautiful colours of our environment," said Jackson. "Women always wear flowers behind their ears or in their hair," she added. The fresh flowers are more than just decoration. "A flower behind the left ear is a woman who is available, behind the right is someone who is married, or not looking." Her flower is on the left side. " I like to live dangerously," she laughed.

One thing Olof Johansson from Saami, Sweden was not wearing were his shoes! "Saami people are very in touch with nature and like to celebrate the earth," he said. He was wearing traditional Saami clothing. The colours of the clothes and of the banding around the neck and cuffs, are related to the colours of the earth, sky and sun. Johansson was wearing a navy blue tunic and legging-style pants at the UN, but at home he said that it is mostlly only the elderly that wear the traditional garb.

"The womens' dress is more interesting," he explained. The colours of their clothes show whether they are married or looking, replacing the western wedding ring as an indicator of availability.