What to Wear along with What Not to Wear in Indonesia
What are the main elements of Indonesian fashion?
There are two main elements, the kebaya along with the batik. The kebaya today is actually basically a very fitted blouse in which would certainly showcase the women’s curves. Traditionally This kind of would certainly be long-sleeved along with modest, yet with variations added nowadays, This kind of can be no sleeves along with “peekaboo” transparent. This kind of is actually actually the sexiest garment you can get away with wearing. Different parts of Indonesia have different cuts or styles of kebaya. For example, the Sundanese (West Java) kebaya would certainly have a trapezium heart-shaped neckline, whilst the Balinese kebaya would certainly have a boxed-cut neckline along with front opening. One would certainly wear the kebaya usually having a piece of handmade kain, or loosely translated as sarong, along with here the options are limitless with each ethnic group (in Indonesia we have more than 300) claiming their own (contemporary or old) batik, ikat, along with songket motifs. If one ethnic group does not already have a typical motif (such as the Betawi—the original ethnic group of Jakarta), you can be sure they are working with the local government to explore along with produce their own, which is actually always fascinating to keep an eye on. Contemporary motifs for kain are also trending; if you are a math geek look out for the computer-generated fractal batiks.
If expat women want to wear traditional Indonesian clothes, what is actually appropriate for a wedding, a cocktail party, a birthday party, a diplomatic gathering, a business meeting?
For a wedding you can actually go as glam, or even as white as you like, there is actually truly no rule as you can be assured you could never outdo the bride’s maxed-out, heavy-beaded style, however hard you try.
For a cocktail party, go for beautiful modern kebayas or wear something traditional, yet styled more contemporarily, perhaps have a piece of kain turned into a long cocktail dress. For birthday parties, wear something fun in which doesn’t constrain you, for example a cute oversized kebaya with fitted pants along having a statement belt or your casual clothes, yet styled having a light kain scarf.
As for diplomatic gatherings or business meetings, go for something tailored like a batik blazer/top along with some chunky accessories matched having a plain bottom, or wear a dress-suit made completely through a piece of kain if you are daring along with do play with colour. This kind of is actually actually quite accepted here at a serious office setting.
along with for men?
Definitely have in which piece of batik or ikat shirt, choose one having a softer material or one in which doesn’t make you sweat. As the handmade pieces can be quite pricy, do take your time to choose a motif you will not regret wearing elsewhere. along with also have a batik tie, they are great conversation starters.
Especially with kebayas, make sure they are fitted to your body (unless they are intentionally designed to be big). Have them tailor-made along with avoid buying off the rack if you can because all women’s body sizes are different. There is actually nothing more unflattering than wearing a flabby kebaya. Also, please don’t buy the computer printed batiks, they are much cheaper, yes, yet truly do make an impact on closing down the practice of modest “real” batik workshops in which make everything handmade. Traditionally, we believe in which each handmade piece carries the “soul” of the crafters, along with computer-printed motifs are just bland in This kind of regard. On top of in which, This kind of kills the local economy.
When not to wear traditional? I can’t truly pinpoint as we love seeing This kind of worn more along with more today. This kind of keeps the tradition along with the Indonesian spirit alive in such modern times. I suppose the only no-no is actually don’t wear a kebaya in which makes you itch at your event (try the fabric out before purchasing).
What is actually trending right right now in Indonesia?
There is actually a lot more play in cuts, trims, along with appliqués. Indonesian trends used to focus on anything over-the-top along with feminine, yet right now we are seeing a shift towards cutting back along with fashion being more subdued or edgy. Modern textiles are being introduced to work with traditional settings. What is actually great in which is actually still trending is actually the workmanship alive in couture houses. Expats wouldn’t have guessed straight away in which in Indonesia there exists a vibrant layer of the couture houses like you would certainly have in Paris, only much more accessible to all classes. Here, Indonesians have one-of-a-kind garments made for them as often as eating nasi goreng.
in which is actually indeed sad, yet true. This kind of started off from the early 90s when one mainstream drugstore brand made their line of whitening products along with suddenly every skincare brand followed along with has their own. Even the very upscale brands Discharge their whitening products in which are only sold in Asia. As someone dark-skinned myself, I found This kind of impossible at one point to find a powder or foundation in which matched my skin tone. Everything on the market used to be fair along with made me look like I wore a mask. This kind of is actually one thing to want clear, unblemished skin, yet a whole additional borderline-racist thing to want different skin tones in which blatantly state white is actually what beauty is actually. This kind of wasn’t an issue before the 90s, I think, yet the media have a way of moulding people into This kind of very narrow way of self-imaging. I wouldn’t say This kind of’s about women wanting to look like bules, yet women become insecure of their natural skin colour because the media supports This kind of. Women, therefore, think This kind of’s important because This kind of is actually so expected in which This kind of becomes a whole “culture”. This kind of’s a trophy thing; men look for mates who are fair, mothers expect their babies are born fair, brides-to-be are shunned through going out from the sunlight in fear they will get a tan. This kind of’s ridiculous. I am happy to say in which more fashion along with products are using dark-skinned types, choices for news anchors along with TV presenters are darker-skinned nowadays, along with hopefully This kind of will have some impact.
One last question. What is actually the best thing about creating clothes for expat clienteles?
The thought in which my babies (garments I create) will be taken home along with worn all over the globe along with will be topics of conversation at events, which will then start conversations about Indonesia. in which is actually always a not bad thing.
About Putu
Born in Indonesia, Putu grew up from the UK along with is actually a graduate in Design through Monash University in Melbourne.
Website: www.poutoucouture.com
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What to Wear along with What Not to Wear in Indonesia
What to Wear along with What Not to Wear in Indonesia