Thailand, a dreamy beach paradise, is a country that has managed to maintain its cultural integrity despite being a significant tourist destination. You will find everything from pristine beaches to dense forests, ancient monasteries to coral reefs, Buddhist monks to floating markets, and fragrant and rich foods to delight your taste buds. Also, Thai people are among the most hospitable people in the world, which only adds to the overall charm of this place. A country goes through different stations in the course of its history. It is subject to political, economic, and social changes.
What doesn’t come to my mind is the gradual change in a country’s dress due to the above factors. Let’s walk through the list of traditional Thai culture dresses in Thailand.
Chut Thai
Thailand’s traditional dress, Chut Thai, has undergone many variations over the centuries. Its literal meaning is “Thai suit.” Typically light, delicate, and modest, Thailand’s diverse ethnic groups wear intricate fabrics and patterns. Many traditional dresses are worn at various festivals, wedding ceremonies, etc.
Suea Phraratchathan
For men, Thailand’s traditional dress is called Suea Phraratchathan (“shirt bestowed by kings”). It is a button-down shirt with a wide collar, long sleeves, and a sash for formal occasions. Men often wear a large rectangular piece of cloth by wrapping it around the waist. The shirt worn by the men is very similar to the Raj pattern jacket, inspired by the Nehru jacket.
Ruean Ton
Ruean Ton is one of the most casual and straightforward outfits of all women’s dresses among Thailand’s traditional dresses. It consists of a tubular skirt worn with a collarless blouse. The blouse has a button placket at the front. And elbow-length sleeves tucked into the skirt. The dress can be plain or embroidered with regional motifs. This outfit is usually worn at unofficial events.
Chakkri
Chakkri is one of Thailand’s most famous and commonly worn traditional dresses and is considered elegant and formal attire. It consists of a long pencil skirt with two front pleats. Sabai, the outer garment, is wrapped around the upper body and pulled under the Sabai. Women often accessorize it with gold jewelry to make it look more magnificent.
Siwalai
Worn primarily at royal and formal events, the siwalai is a one-piece garment made by sewing two pieces together. It has a long pencil skirt with pleats at the front and a buttoned bodice with sleeves sewn together to the elbow. A Sabai over the parting completes the look and gives it an elegant and chic look.
Boromphiman
This evening wear is suitable for both formal and semi-formal occasions. Similar to Siwalai, it also has a skirt and bodice sewn together. The shirt traditionally has a crew neck and long sleeves and is usually tucked under the sarong. The fabric is brocaded, giving it an elegant and luxurious look. This traditional Thai dress is beautiful and can be seen by women at semi-formal events in Thailand.
Chitlada
Chitlada is ideal for day ceremonies and consists of a long sinh (pareo) worn with a blouse with five gold buttons down the front. The brocade embroidery on the hem of the sarong adds to the beauty of the dress—one of the traditional dresses of Thailand, worn by women on more formal or official occasions.
These traditional Thai dresses are mainly worn at festivals or other formal occasions. People can wear a variation of their classic and national dress on their wedding day.
