Leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on Sunday in Vladivostok took their family photo in official suits in a move believed to show their serious attitude toward the ongoing global economic and financial difficulties.

Since regional leaders and representatives started to meet annually for what has come to be known as the APEC leaders' week, the attendants had followed a tradition of dressing up for the photo opportunity in costumes reflecting the culture of the host member.

Starting with bombardier leather jackets in 1993, regional leaders and representatives had appeared in family photos in such costumes as batik shirts, Tangzhuang, chamantos, hanboks, ao dai, drizabones and ponchos, among others.

But the dressing tradition stopped in 2010 in Yokohama, where participants took the family photo in smart casual suits, and in the Honolulu gathering in 2011, when attendants appeared in regular suits.

Many suppose that the formal dress code was intended to reflect the world's gloomy economic and financial picture in the wake of the recent global financial crises.

If so, photo hobbyists might have to wait for some more years before they could see APEC leaders dress up again in traditional costumes in loud colors for family photos.