When I first got to Thailand I lived in Isaan for 7 months, where singlets/sleeveless tshirts, above the knee shorts/skirts weren't really appropriate to be worn out, so I just didn't wear them. I have moved to Bangkok and continue to dress quite conservatively, but I have been assured by both my (male and female) farang friends who've been living here for years and my Thai workmates that these days it's perfectly okay for a girl to wear singlets/sleeveless tshirts/short skirts or shorts in Bangkok. I've seen them in all the shops/markets and I see every day girls (even the girls from the office) wearing them all over the place.

I wore a bonods singlet to the gym once and felt like people were looking at me funny, but I may have just felt self conscious from not having worn one in so long.

I have a nice strappy top and a (not overly short) miniskirt with me but I haven't worn either yet, am wondering what's the general concensus? I am quite self conscious and don't want to give people the wrong impression.

Edited March 21, 200719 yr by Bellatrix

I never understand this thing about shorts in issan, thats all i see young thai women wearing in Khon kaen (not the city but in a fairly large town) vests too are ok for running to the market or local 7-11. Not sure about for work as most people we know have their own businesses.??

I personally wouldn't wear a mini skirt AND a string top but instead wear the string top with a pair of trousers & a light cardigan or shirt over it and the mini skirt with a short sleeved blouse for example.

If in doubt cover up a bit more is my motto when in LOS, but as the thais say, up to you

Yeah I saw loads of girls in shorts there as well, heaps of the girls in Ubon wore those little cropped shorts they sell at the market, but when I lived in a village I heard from the teachers that one 14 year old girl at the school was a prostitute because she was wearing short shorts on her motorbike Anyway I was told it was a bad idea for farang girls. But actually, when I was in Isaan, buying clothes wasn't that easy, since half of what was on sale WAS little shorts, singlet tops etc, which made me wonder why they were supposedly not okay to wear.

Oh, I wouldn't wear the singlet and the skirt together anyway (big believer in one asset at a time rule hehehe) but wanted to know if the items themselves are ok.

Is it okay to wear shorts like these?

(sadly, that's not me in the photo)

Good question. Even for men conservative attire is de rigeur in Bangkok I think, (viz not shorts and singlets), and it looks particularly unattractive on well-nourished farangs. However, I have noticed that (especially younger) Thais wear shorts and casual dress at weekends, when out shopping in malls etc. I think if you're young enough and fit enough you can usually wear anything. The less so in that category, the better to cover up. You can always spot Asian tourists, who might look Thai (Chinese) by their casual dress, which is usually also very fashionable. But if the Min of Cult has its way, it wants Thais to dress more conservatively, and preferably in Thai silks, (unless of course they're labourers or street vendors, when it doesn't much care).

You can definitely wear things in Bangkok that you wouldn't upcountry. Both because the standards of dress are less conservative and because foreigners are much less of a curiosity.

I would say, do ahead and wear what the majority of Thai women seem to be wearing, taking context (time of day, location) into account.

The one caution is that, owing to our much larger breasts (how much larger you will appreciate if you ever try to buy a bra here!!), some of the tops that are in style will in fact look sluttier/sexier (depending on one's point of view) on farangs than they do on the Thais...having more on top, we do in fact need more covering there. But that doesn't mean you can't go sleeveless, just use common sense. From the Thai male perspective, farang women's breasts are a great attraction (or so I've been told) so if you dress in a manner that draws attention to them, expect them to be looked at.

Bangkok is, as far as I can tell, far more relaxed about the clothes a girl wears than in the countryside. I don't own any spaghetti strap shirts or short shorts so wouldn't wear them. But I do wear longer shorts (halfway down to the knee) and capri pants with what I call a conservative tank (not too tight, straps not strappy)

this style: (although not necessarily this color )

But then, I am a 40 year old woman and feel I look silly in juvenile fashions

I wear strappy tops all the time (with a bloomin'good strapless bra underneath) here in HH. I don't think I've ever been stared at or had anyone make a comment about it, maybe because it's a beach town. Don't tend to wear minis or even shorts out in town, though, as I don't like my legs. Long skirts, cropped trousers or jeans. I do wear shorts to work, often, but I don't think the dogs are likely to be offended by that.