From time to time, I've noticed quite a few people commenting upon the singlet and thong (flipflop) wearing folk in Phuket as being the dregs, no-hopers, etc. I may be mistaken, but it seems the loudest critics are the English. I've always held the view that one dresses for one's own comfort - not for the approval of fashion nazis. On a hot day, unless I'm attending an event in which a certain standard of clothing is demanded by the circumstances, I'm most comfortable in cool clothing (as above). (In Phuket, of course, this is most days of the week.) Why do some people insist that people who dress in light, airy clothing suitable to the tropics are low-class, knuckle dragging caravan park dwellers? Those same people insist that long trousers, shoes and collared shirts are the least standard of attire for any occasion, while they look down their noses at others between wipes of perspiration from their brows.

Given that I am not referring only to expat business folk doing their B30k/tuppence per month Thai jobs, why is it that some members of TV see the need to suffer in order to pass some perception to those around them? More to the point, why do they have the audacity to berate folk who don't share their ideas of suitable attire? I have my own thoughts on this and I would be interested to see the views of others on this topic.

BTW, the first poster to drag out the old chestnut of 'Clothes maketh the man' will be sent to Nurse Diesel for an extra dose of think-for-yourself pills...

this is an interesting thread. In my opinion the best way is to dress according to the circumstances, If on an oil rig then flip flops and a hawaiian shirt will not be the way to go. If working in a bank or similar then wearing a suit and tie is the norm. Seeing a doctor or lawyer in shorts and tshirt is generally not the way to go. In Thailand I generally wear shorts and flipflops with a tshirt. Going out with my girl especially in the evening I will pull on a collared shirt (Hawaiian or not) and long pants or jeans. Going to the Immigration office then it is always a clean ironed collared shirt with slack, and polished shoes.

Like ping I am interested in how this thread develops.. Knowing the members of this forum it will probably tangent into a discussion of the differences between the meadow and mountain badger

CB

Well said Ping. I'm like you. I had to dress up everyday for 35+ years, but now that I'm no longer a slave to the man, I wear suitable, comfortable clothing for the conditions. In Phuket, or other Thai beach locations, that is shorts, t/shirts and thongs.

Yes, I agree, it is usually the British who make the clothing complaints on these pages. I put it down to their suppressed, traditional, class oriented upbringing in their dowdy climate. I usually just ignore those individuals as people to feel slightly sorry for.

When I see an old, retired man dressed up in a collared shirt, tie and coat every day, even if all he is doing is going to the local shop, I feel pity, and even slight distain, for his inablity to throw off the shackles of his repressed life.

Maybe its not the attire but the condition of the attire.

A t-shirt and flip flops is fine but a wife beter and flipflops???

But then I am still a slave to the man; shirt, tie and slacks every freakin day....in 35c weather. So I envy everyone that have the freedom to dress how they like!!!!!!

Another Brit bashing thread. Do you Aussies never get tired of it.

Another Brit bashing thread. Do you Aussies never get tired of it.

Its fun bashing Brits, Americans, Aussies, anyone except the Dutch

And let me join in the bashing

I used to work at stock brokers office (no i'm not rich) but that meant i had to dress up a lot. I hated it so here i don't like to dress up at all. I don't have to so i don't.

There are a lot of ppl making assumptions about a person by the way he looks.. and we all know assumptions are the mother of all fuc_k ups.

Maybe its not the attire but the condition of the attire.

A t-shirt and flip flops is fine but a wife beter and flipflops???

But then I am still a slave to the man; shirt, tie and slacks every freakin day....in 35c weather. So I envy everyone that have the freedom to dress how they like!!!!!!

I agree. I also think its how someone puts something together. Look..i dont go around making comments and judging people (and yes im a Brit!! - and im a Brit who at this particular time is making a comment on clothing..but only cuz u brought it up! ), but if you want an honest opinion then yes, i think some clothes can be the same style but look more presentable. If a guy came up to chat with me in a frayed scanky singlet and shorts, of course i wouldnt be rude to him! But, yes, his attire would make me wonder why he doesnt take a bit more pride in his appearance. If us ladies went around in without consideration about our appearance, then im sure men would be pretty dismayed.

My point is that say a guy walking around the town looking something like in the photo below(may i just point out that the 'gold coast' singlet is not a dig at aussies in anyway, this is the only google image that i could find without dynamic tags! I also wish to say, that this outfit is GREAT for when you are actually running or doing physical exercise..just doesnt look so cool walking down the high street ..particularly if you dont really have the body that reflects that you do any kind of physical exercise at all...):

Shorts like the ones below could be just as cool and comfortable teamed with a white cotton vest. BUT, look far more presentable.

Again, i really dont care what people want to wear, its up to them. But yes, people of most nationalities (particularly Thai people) will often form some kind of judgement based on your clothing. Its up to you how you wish to be perceived.

Speedos, yuk.

Well said Ping. I'm like you. I had to dress up everyday for 35+ years, but now that I'm no longer a slave to the man, I wear suitable, comfortable clothing for the conditions. In Phuket, or other Thai beach locations, that is shorts, t/shirts and thongs.

----snip

I prefer boxers OC.

Listen. If you Aussies want to go around looking like you've just been in a death roll with a 12ft Croc, that's up to you. But don't try and turn it around, as if the Brits nit picking at you.

Another Brit bashing thread. Do you Aussies never get tired of it.

As long as the Brits refer to us as convicts, sheilas, antipodeans and uncultured, as long as Brits start threads like: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Idiot-Aussie...li-t268261.html and http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Australians-...l&p=2754141, as long as British posters like Nignoy berat everything Aussie seemingly in every second post, as long as the English remain blind to the 5-0 result in the latest Ashes contest and only talk about the one before that, I will return fire.

Well said Ping. I'm like you. I had to dress up everyday for 35+ years, but now that I'm no longer a slave to the man, I wear suitable, comfortable clothing for the conditions. In Phuket, or other Thai beach locations, that is shorts, t/shirts and thongs.

----snip

I prefer boxers OC.

My use of the Australian word for what others call flip flops was deliberate.

Well..ive personally nothing negative to say about aussies. Ive always found them fun and laid back. Dont really think my nationality deserves to be 'bashed' cuz there are some Brits who make ignorant comments.

Well..ive personally nothing negative to say about aussies. Ive always found them fun and laid back. Dont really think my nationality deserves to be 'bashed' cuz there are some Brits who make ignorant comments.

Well said eek

I met one a few years ago and he was a real gent.

I met one a few years ago and he was a real gent.

"met one" what Patsy?

Met an Aussie in Edinburgh. He worked in a bar, actually asked me "what sort of grapage would you like?"

Also met one or two on Samui. Always the gents - got nothing against our Antopidean cousins. They walked me home to my hotel and made sure i was in the room. Bought them a beer the next day. Twas, Paddy's day...

And did not that weirdo who won the Best Job in the World - not buggger up on his Twitter after two days. Did not even know where he was?

Most of us Aussies are gentlemen, Patsy (There may be one or two exceptions. of course...)

Well, except for baz. Who is, I hear, a pig.

Anyway. I live on a little island where anything other than shorts and a tshirt is over dressing. When I go to town, I put on my nice shorts and a nice t-shirt. I remember this Thai woman from Bangkok who moved to the island years ago, used to dress to the nines. All the locals figured she was a bit touched in the head

Then there was the old guy used to live in Hadrin, European I think (but no idea of what country) he would wear a red speedo everywhere, big gut hanging out. When he went to town, he would put on a t-shirt.

As long as people are reasonably covered, who cares what they wear? I've got more important things to worry about in my life than other peoples dress sense.

As long as people are reasonably covered, who cares what they wear? I've got more important things to worry about in my life than other peoples dress sense.

Well said, I agree, but you do see some sights to quietly laugh about sometimes over here

I find the tight white t shirts and trousers brigade funny in Pattaya. John Rivolta lives !

Dave

Well..ive personally nothing negative to say about aussies. Ive always found them fun and laid back. Dont really think my nationality deserves to be 'bashed' cuz there are some Brits who make ignorant comments.

555555555555555

Standards have slipped a lot since Old Croc and I used to hang out at Cottesloe Beach.

(I notice mine is still hanging......... .)

I always wear long trousers, socks and shoes. Just hate walking in flipflops, the only exception would be at the beach. Even there, rather some canvas shoes but NOT FLIPFLOPS.

I enjoy watching the shorts-wearing brigade complaining about mosquito bites when the sun goes down.

I try to look not overdressed but presentable and for sure (as I am living in Pattaya) not like a tourist.

By the way...I wonder that Brits sneer upon not-so-well dressed people. From my Pattaya experience they are the worst in terms of dress code...

Standards have slipped a lot since Old Croc and I used to hang out at Cottesloe Beach.

(I notice mine is still hanging......... .)

You were always a lot more "out" than me Ken

Well..ive personally nothing negative to say about aussies. Ive always found them fun and laid back. Dont really think my nationality deserves to be 'bashed' cuz there are some Brits who make ignorant comments.

555555555555555

um..????

By the way...I wonder that Brits sneer upon not-so-well dressed people. From my Pattaya experience they are the worst in terms of dress code...

Probably because of the ratio of brits in Patters. So there are going to be some who over dress, some who dress just right and some who are going to be the scruffiest b4stards on the planet. Come on Raro, I had you a tad more switched on than that

Standards have slipped a lot since Old Croc and I used to hang out at Cottesloe Beach.

(I notice mine is still hanging......... .)

You were always a lot more "out" than me Ken

So now we all know where you keep your money roll, Ken...

Maybe its not the attire but the condition of the attire.

A t-shirt and flip flops is fine but a wife beter and flipflops???

But then I am still a slave to the man; shirt, tie and slacks every freakin day....in 35c weather. So I envy everyone that have the freedom to dress how they like!!!!!!

I agree. I also think its how someone puts something together. Look..i dont go around making comments and judging people (and yes im a Brit!! - and im a Brit who at this particular time is making a comment on clothing..but only cuz u brought it up! ), but if you want an honest opinion then yes, i think some clothes can be the same style but look more presentable. If a guy came up to chat with me in a frayed scanky singlet and shorts, of course i wouldnt be rude to him! But, yes, his attire would make me wonder why he doesnt take a bit more pride in his appearance. If us ladies went around in without consideration about our appearance, then im sure men would be pretty dismayed.

My point is that say a guy walking around the town looking something like in the photo below(may i just point out that the 'gold coast' singlet is not a dig at aussies in anyway, this is the only google image that i could find without dynamic tags! I also wish to say, that this outfit is GREAT for when you are actually running or doing physical exercise..just doesnt look so cool walking down the high street ..particularly if you dont really have the body that reflects that you do any kind of physical exercise at all...):

Shorts like the ones below could be just as cool and comfortable teamed with a white cotton vest. BUT, look far more presentable.

Again, i really dont care what people want to wear, its up to them. But yes, people of most nationalities (particularly Thai people) will often form some kind of judgement based on your clothing. Its up to you how you wish to be perceived.

Eek - As a Brit I would not be seen dead in those ridiculous long shorts (or short longs - can't make up my mind). They are guaranteed to make the wearer look a complete dork.

My wife usually puts out the clothes she expects me to wear when I'm home in Thailand. Usually a singlet and shorts (proper mid-thigh shorts) and sandals. I don't wear thongs because I cannot walk my usual five kilometres in them comfortably - especially on the uneven Pattaya paving.

This is comfortable and is not remarked-upon by anyone, as all are used to seeing me this way.

When I'm working things are different, dress to suit the occasion.

I am with the first three (antipodean) posters on this. Thirty-plus years away from Blighty may have loosened my brain a little.

Eek - As a Brit I would not be seen dead in those ridiculous long shorts (or short longs - can't make up my mind). They are guaranteed to make the wearer look a complete dork.

My wife usually puts out the clothes she expects me to wear when I'm home in Thailand. Usually a singlet and shorts (proper mid-thigh shorts) and sandals. I don't wear thongs because I cannot walk my usual five kilometres in them comfortably - especially on the uneven Pattaya paving.

This is comfortable and is not remarked-upon by anyone, as all are used to seeing me this way.

When I'm working things are different, dress to suit the occasion.

I am with the first three (antipodean) posters on this. Thirty-plus years away from Blighty may have loosened my brain a little.

hehe. Personally i think the "proper mid-thigh shorts" are more dorky looking.

When i think of mid-thigh, this image comes to mind:

When i think of "cool" shorts, this image comes to mind:

Although i think we can probably all agree that either is preferable to (which, for the record would make me smile if i saw this guy. Wonder how many others who say they dont judge others clothing have laid back attitudes when it comes to slightly more unusual clothing tastes .):

But, doesnt really matter! Wear what makes you feel good

But well..i was just joining in for the topic, its not something i spend time thinking about (with regards to other peoples clothes). Nor do I have a problem with other nationalities..even though Old Croc seems to find something i said laughable..but im not going to spend time thinking about that either.

..and during my teenage years I dressed in rock/glam rock way. My hair was pink at one point. The level of tolerance from some people was pretty low, even from other nationalities. So, yeh..i think that its not just the Brits who may have an issue with clothing.

I always wear long trousers, socks and shoes.

raro that is because the last time I saw legs like yours they had a message tied to them.

CB