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SYDNEY - The 21 Asia-Pacific leaders gathering this week in Sydney, a city renowned for its beach lifestyle, can stop pulling in their stomachs - they will not be forced to wear swimming costumes for the official photograph.
At the end of each Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit, leaders pose for a photograph in a costume that represents the host nation.
In Vietnam in 2006 the leaders dressed in full-length traditional ao dai outfits.
Discussion in Australia over what the leaders, who include US President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao, may wear has prompted a number of humorous suggestions.
As Australia does not have a definitive national dress, some have suggested the leaders could be wearing swimming costumes, nicknamed "budgie smugglers" for men, and thongs or flip-flops - traditional Aussie beach attire.
Others have proposed the Aussie workman's uniform - navy blue singlets, tight shorts and steel capped boots.
The most likely outfit is not inspired by the Australian beach, despite the majority of the population living on the coast, but the country's iconic rugged outback.
The classic bushman's outfit consists of a rabbit-skin hat, full-length leather rain coat and leather boots.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is aware the wrong outfit would be a fashion and diplomatic faux pas.
Howard remained tight-lipped on Monday about what the leaders would wear for their photograph - but ruled out one outfit.
"The only Australian garb I'd rule out is Speedos (swimming costumes) and thongs (flip flops)," Howard told local television. "I don't think I'd do that, that wouldn't be very diplomatic."
"It will be very Australian. Think Australian in a very positive way, one we all identify with," he said.
WHAT THE LEADERS WORE AT PREVIOUS APEC SUMMITS
2006: Vietnam Traditional full-length ao dai silk tunics
Vietnamese fashion designer Minh Hanh said she incorporated lotus flowers into the tunics because they symbolised her country and its people. The ao dai was worn in ancient Vietnam, with yellow reserved for the King, purple and red for high-ranking palace officials and blue for lower court officials. However APEC leaders were allowed to choose from yellow, red, blue or green.
2005: Korea Traditional South Korean silk overcoats called Durumagi
For convenience, the durumagi given to the APEC leaders were redesigned so they could be worn comfortably over Western-style suits. They were decorated with longevity symbols such as pine trees and clouds and also incorporated peony designs. The overcoats come in seven different colors: gold, brown, silver, dark blue and light green for men, and pink and purple for women.
2004: Chile Traditional Chilean chamanto (ponchos)
Chamanto can take a craftsman up to four months to make. The garments have two sides, light and dark. The light side is worn facing out at night and the dark side is displayed during the day. Chamanto are decorated with various patterns of flowers and special birds from Chile.
2003: Thailand Traditional silk shirts
Made by weavers in the remote village of Tha Sawang, the leaders' shirts came in four colours - burgundy, green, purple and blue - and were decorated differently depending on where each leader hailed from. Those from Muslim member economies had flower motifs on their shirts while leaders from non-Muslim member economies received shirts embroidered with animals from Thai mythology.
2002: Mexico Traditional huipiles and guayabera
Female leaders donned hand-made huipiles - swathes of cloth, doubled over with an opening for the head - a form of women's clothing which has been worn in Mexico since pre-Colombian times. The patterns woven into the cloth date back before the conquest and represent sacred beings and animals that protect the crops, fertility and harmony with the earth.
Male leaders wore Mexico's traditional white guayabera, which originated in the Caribbean and arrived in Mexico during the colonial era.
2001: China Traditional Chinese silk jackets
2000: Brunei Blue shirts with traditional embroidery
1999: New Zealand Merino wool long-sleeved polo shirts and lined, padded, yachting jackets
The whole ensemble was black and the jackets also featured an embroidered silver fern.
1998: Malaysia Traditional batik shirts
The shirts featured the design's trademark floral and swirling patterns.
1997: Canada Brown leather bomber jackets
- REUTERS, NZ HERALD STAFF
