Do you tend to shun donning Hi-So fashion during the Hot Season in Thailand?

[GammaGlobulin]

Dear Folks,

 

As we all know, the Hot Season is now just around the corner in Thailand.

 

Of course, if this were Hong Kong, no matter how hot and humid it might become, still, there is really no good excuse for not dressing-up, or..at least…in the past…there was no excuse.

 

Maybe, these days, after the commie-takeover, things have changed in Hong Kong, with everyone running around without being dressed to the hilt.

 

But then, what about here in Thailand?

 

During the Hot Season, do you dress to the hilt?

 

Or, these days, do you try to dress in a way which makes you appear more egalitarian, and…more….approachable to those who have not?

 

Here in Thailand, air-conditioning is not up to the standards of Hong Kong, as you know. And so, dressing up makes one sweat more in Thailand.  But, do you still do your best?

 

Personally, I enjoy being among those who dress well, and dress well for any occasion. This means wearing a tie, sometimes.  And also, walking around the city as if BKK or CM were Milan.

 

In my opinion, it actually does not matter how old one might be….because…

 

There is really NO EXCUSE for not looking good.

And, not looking good like….

 

THIS:

Let the above vid be your guide.  And…

 

Do most of you on TV dress this way when you step out?

 

Or, just HOW DO YOU DRESS, anyway???

 

Send photos, please.

 

What is the TV fashion style?

 

Curious.

Gamma

 

 

 

[freedomnow]

Shorts and a t-shirt..clothing on last legs...no ironing as the humidity takes care of that.

 

CLASSY.

[Gsxrnz]

Ties don't really go well with a Chang wife-beater, beer stained cargo shorts, and flip-flops. But I'll give it a crack. 

[simon43]

Regardless of how hot the weather is, and unless I'm jogging, I always wear long trousers and a buttoned shirt with collar.  I don't even possess a pair of shorts, flip-flops etc.  I have several ties, but I reserve those for when I'm teaching in the classroom.

 

It's interesting to see how Thais treat a Westerner who dresses reasonably well, as opposed to a slob. In my regular  7/11s, I'm always addressed as 'Ajarn', (or 'Saya' in Myanmar shops).  There's definitely a note of respect 🙂

 

BTW, wearing long trousers and a collared shirt is hardly hi-so fashion 🙂

[GammaGlobulin]

8 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I have several ties,

 

One can only shudder....IF...they might be....

hand painted by your students.

 

I guess you probably already know that.....Dawkins' ties are....

Hand-painted.

 

Richard keeps his wife's nose to the grindstone...painting his ties...
So the story goes.

 

 

Obviously, it requires a very LOVING husband to wear a tie such as this one, painted by a wife.

 

 

[bkk6060]

I like to fit in.

So,  I let my beard grow and wear a cheap flimsy cap.  My 7XL yellow Singha tank has blood, beer and vomit stains.  My size 48 cargo shorts are baggy because I plan on getting fatter. My sandals don't fit, so I shuffle my feet when I walk making a scratching noise that bothers everyone.  I shower twice a week and change my underpants once.

[Ralf001]

Smart casual to work.... Wife beater/shorts/thongs all other times

[Walker88]

Even if I'm just stepping out to 7-11 for a protein drink, it's a bespoke Brioni suit, covering a Stefano Ricci shirt, fitted with either a Ricci or Hermes tie, and my feet hit the pavement in John Lobbs or JM Westons, as both are happy to make the 12-B I require for size and width. Under it all are Sea Island cotton boxers, that give a man the room to be a man. Obviously, there will never be a defacing and silly tattoo, as those are for Beta males and fad followers, not Alphas or Sigmas.

 

Now for Songkran I lighten up a bit and release the windsor on the tie. I call that 'dress casual'.

 

We are, after all, guests in this country. Behave and dress accordingly.

[fondue zoo]

I will always wear a cravat and gold buttoned waistcoat when I'm feeling hi-so.

It's really hot so that's the entire outfit, just porky piggin' it, doves cry, women and children cry.

[henryford1958]

People don't dress like that in the West let alone some tropical third world country. Ever walked around London recently?

[Njoku]

I have a Hugo Boss black round neck t-shirt that cost me a small fortune a few years ago, feel naked wearing it it feels so good, though very casual is that ok to wear and considered to be well dressed? 

[Njoku]

1 hour ago, henryford1958 said:

People don't dress like that in the West let alone some tropical third world country. Ever walked around London recently?

Maybe in your circles but I can assure you plenty do..

[KhunLA]

I dress for comfort, or 'respect' for myself, wife or venue.  Don't go out looking khee nok or jon mak mak, especially if with wife or going to a non el' cheapo, ma / pa  vendor.

 

Plus long pants & proper footwear (Nike) help avoid mozzy bites.

[Lacessit]

I wear clothing suited to the climate, mostly purchased for me in a second-hand shop by my GF.

 

I don't give a damn about fashion. IMO the people who do are as shallow as a mud puddle.

[freedomnow]

  

5 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I wear clothing suited to the climate, mostly purchased for me in a second-hand shop by my GF.

 

I don't give a damn about fashion. IMO the people who do are as shallow as a mud puddle.

 

Agree on fashion, but on on classic styling...

Honestly, my clothing sense never got worse than in Thailand..back in UK now with snappy well-fitting stylish clothes...and jackets - boy do I love wearing jackets..bought about 14 of them when I came back.....

Been through about 8 Italian fitted jackets getting the right tapered fit and look...back from the clohing dead.

 

The bar is so low outside anywhere but hiso Bangkok bar scene that my standards just went through the floor.

[Yagoda]

M y T_shirts and Gym shorts are clean.

[GammaGlobulin]

2 hours ago, freedomnow said:

boy do I love wearing jackets.

 

Agree completely.

A bit formal, but still relaxed and comfortable...

With or without tie.

Sometimes loafers, the brown ones, of course.

 

[rough diamond]

21 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Agree completely. Sometimes loafers, the brown ones, of course.

 

To wear or abuse?

[SingAPorn]

A neglected bald pot belly bitter or sour drunk,  will always look the part even if in a Armani or a Boss suit.

[SiSePuede419]

Hi-So fashion for Farangs in hot season is to wear a shirt.

Last year in Samui it got so hot it was like 42 feels like temperature for a few days, I didn't wear a shirt going into 7 after I had been walking in the hot sun, got some looks, but no one cared 

This year, I compromised and got some of those white fabric shirts that's so loose weave it's almost transparent.

Makes a big difference in social standing. 🩴

[Middle Aged Grouch]

Why are the falangs in Thailand so conscious of the image of their social status ?

 

Just trying to be something they could never dream of, back home in the west probably...

[simon43]

7 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Hi-So fashion for Farangs in hot season is to wear a shirt.

Last year in Samui it got so hot it was like 42 feels like temperature for a few days, I didn't wear a shirt going into 7 after I had been walking in the hot sun, got some looks, but no one cared 

This year, I compromised and got some of those white fabric shirts that's so loose weave it's almost transparent.

Makes a big difference in social standing. 🩴

Jeez! You went into 7/11 bare-chested?!  (Shakes head in despair...)

 

And when walking bare-chested, I hope that was only down on the beach.

 

I haven't added a 'joking' smiley because I'm not joking.....

[Walker88]

9 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Why are the falangs in Thailand so conscious of the image of their social status ?

 

Just trying to be something they could never dream of, back home in the west probably...

Maybe I'm just conservative, but I try to be neat and represent foreigners in a manner that would leave a favorable impression among Thais, as I never forget I am both a visitor and an outsider, and even a sort of unintended diplomat. "Social status" has nothing to do with it; not being an eye sore does.

 

Back home, or in any nation where I worked, I actually did dress as I joked in my earlier post, at least when working....Brioni suit, Stefano Ricci shirt, tie and freshly polished shoes. When I moved to Thailand, I left most of the suits in other residences, but brought lots of my other work garments, so I can go out the same 'dress casual' as I did back when working on Wall Street. In the heat of daytime March to June, I do wear shorts, but they are tailored and even pleated, and are neat and freshly laundered and pressed. Up to you if you want to dress differently, but "neat" is usually acceptable by Thai people. To borrow from Fergie, I don't have "my lumps....my ugly girlymanly lumps", meaning a belly and spare tires.

 

When I go out, neatness is at the core. I would never walk into a restaurant here in cargo pants and a wife beater, a giant beer belly barely covered, and a cacophony of ugly ink splattered across my all-too-visible skin. Perhaps Thais like their falang looking like that in a public setting, but I think not. Personally, I'd be ashamed if I had the belly and massive girth far too many Westerners plod around with on Bangkok's streets. Have some pride! Too many farang here look as if they're doing an impersonation of Jabba the Hutt. It isn't pretty.

 

Of the cover pics on the video posted by the OP, I can sort of see myself as the fellow in the pleated chinos and teal pullover, though none of the other looks. It's not so much a fashion statement as neat, and the build is close to my own. Even the most xenophobic Thai is not going to be offended by someone so decked out. Most won't care, while those put off by falang might think "that one is okay".

 

Others might argue "too bad if the Thais don't like my appearance", and that is up to you. I feel that being neat is a way to show respect and not offend needlessly. It can't hurt, and it might help create a better impression of the foreign onslaught here, which is good for everybody.

[GammaGlobulin]

11 hours ago, rough diamond said:

To wear or abuse?

 

Brown loafers should be worn with slacks and jacket.

But, definitely without socks.

 

This is the way Tucker does it.

(We all know Tucker Carlson.)

 

Tucker was born in California.

BUT, he attended Trinity in Connecticut.

THIS is why he sometimes wears loafers without socks.....

His exposure to the preppies in Connecticut.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Brown loafers should be worn with slacks and jacket.

But, definitely without socks.

 

This is the way Tucker does it.

(We all know Tucker Carlson.)

 

Tucker was born in California.

BUT, he attended Trinity in Connecticut.

THIS is why he sometimes wears loafers without socks.....

His exposure to the preppies in Connecticut.

 

 

Here is what I mean:

 

 

However, GOOD QUALITY shoes in America are no longer available, at any price.

 

One must buy USED SHOES (they call them pre-owned), in order to get quality which is not DUMBED DOWN.

 

These days, no matter what you buy, you will always buy garbage in American stores.

The do not sell any other kind of quality, other than garbage quality.

 

If you had a time-machine, then you could buy good quality shirts, shoes, suits, in America.

But not these days.

 

Same goes for England, as I mentioned in another comment recently posted.

 

Also, there used to be a shoe brand called Boston, one which I think was OK about 60 years ago.

 

Now, though, I guess it has been scrapped or flogged to some Chinese company.

 

And now, I would guess Boston is garbage compared to Boston of my younger days.

 

This type of thing is criminal.

The quality goes down.

The price goes up.

And, the Fat Cats drink Margaritas in Margaritaville.

 

 

 

 

 

[Celsius]

On 2/21/2025 at 6:20 AM, simon43 said:

Regardless of how hot the weather is, and unless I'm jogging, I always wear long trousers and a buttoned shirt with collar.  I don't even possess a pair of shorts, flip-flops etc.  I have several ties, but I reserve those for when I'm teaching in the classroom.

 

It's interesting to see how Thais treat a Westerner who dresses reasonably well, as opposed to a slob. In my regular  7/11s, I'm always addressed as 'Ajarn', (or 'Saya' in Myanmar shops).  There's definitely a note of respect 🙂

 

BTW, wearing long trousers and a collared shirt is hardly hi-so fashion 🙂

 

That's painful in this weather.

 

It's like me walking while consciously contracting abdominal muscles, pulling my stomach inwards trying to flatten it.

 

It's difficult, but like you im not giving up.

[richard_smith237]

13 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Here is what I mean:

 

 

 

There's a retired Wallmart manager somewhere in Idaho looking for his shoes...