How should a female dress in Indonesia?
I’m 25 years old and I’m moving to Indonesia for a year. I’ll be there for work, and I’m having trouble finding information on appropriate female dress for business, leisure, and more formal events. Thanks!
Please don’t answer if you have no idea. If you’ve been to Indonesia or know people who have, your input would be helpful. I know they don’t dress the same as in the U.S. It’s a Muslim country, and somewhat conservative, I just don’t know the specific standards.
Moving to Jakarta
Victoria
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12 Responses to “How should a female dress in Indonesia?”
May 17th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Hey….. guess what….. they wear the same stuff you wear for those situations. What? You think they don’t have cell phones and color tv? It’s all the same.. unless you’re in the muslum world. The world quit being exotic in about 1920.
May 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
hi nadine. just dress appropriately and proper. it doesnt really matter what you choose to wear. just be courteous and smart in choosing your apparel. im sure you’ll be alright x) cheers
May 20th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
My family lived in Indonesia from the time I was 18 til I was 25. I wouldn’t wear shorts and a tank top out to a mall or the airport (I know women my age at the time who did and received very inappropriate male attention). Most of the time I wore slacks, jeans or a skirt with a blouse or tshirt. When in doubt dress up. It’s very European in that regard. Some Indonesian women will wear scarves, but most don’t. You may even see some Saudi women who cover completely.
As far as business, follow the lead of other women in the office, it will probably be more formal than in the States. For leisure, it depends on where you go. If you’re going to the American Club or your countries equivalent, feel free to dress in any way.
As far as formal, take one formal gown. You can buy just about anything there if you can fit into Asian sizes. If you have some pieces that you really love, you can have them copied at a tailor. Unless you find a non-Muslim tailor, they won’t make original pieces for you. You can find a seamstress who can make some really great custom pieces for really good prices. So for formal wear, I’d get it made.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
A little bit more modest compare to the west.
Although Indonesia is the biggest muslim country in the world, the dress code for women is not like from-head-to-toe as what in Saudi.
For business, a woman is used to wear formal dress with skirt or slack, sometime with blazer. No t-shirt or denims.
For leisure, as long as you’re not wearing 2 pieces bikini, you’ll be OK then.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I have traveled to Indonesia yearly since 2002 for business and pleasure. I would say that a more appropriate answer can be provided if I knew which island you will be working in, however, what I have seen and observed is that women dress with either skirt suits or pant suits. Nothing revealing, somewhat somber. Shoes are very practical as mostly everyone rides a scooter to work, however pumps are often seen. Stockings are not often worn, I guess due to the heat. I wore business suits, light in color and fabric. However the locals wore dark suits. No headdress was worn by foreigners or locals who were not Muslim. I found that as long as you left the more dainty clothing for outside the workplace no problem was had. It doesn’t mean you have to dress like a man, it just meant that my cleavage was not hanging our like if I was at the beach. Once again it also depends on which island you will be working in, if you were to work in Aceh my advise would be to go conservative all the time. However, Bali, Lombok (believe it or not), and Jakarta are a bit more tolerant. Especially if you are working in an International or Foreign owned company. Best of luck!!!!
May 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
You can wear anything you like!!! Although lately I’ve heard that you can’t wear tank top?? though i think it’s just a rumor. Anyway…. just don’t wear over short skirts/shorts that will show your bottom and don’t wear too **** a tank top!!
May 26th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
its true that indonesia is biggest moslem country, but most people of us didnt use abaya or burqa that most arabian women do. u free to use anything as far as polite. dont be too **** or too hot. most of people in jakarta use jeans pants and t-shirt for leisure. theres no punishment for using **** dress, just get more attention from naughty man who whistle and says that u looks so sexy
for working u can use blazer and skirt (dont be too short) or long pants. its all your.
for swim suit u can use it while in beach.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Which part of Indonesia? If you’re moving to Banda Aceh north of Sumatra, then you should really dress appropriately cos’ the rules there are tight and they’re very strict when it comes to proper clothing, females especially. They’re really conservative people. Majority of the people there are Muslims.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
it is proper to have your shoulders at all times no skimpy skirts or tops especially if you visit any official offices or banks. Dress respectively and you should have not problems always wear comfortable shoes and depending on where you are going take a light top with you at night.
Respect is the key word for dress and manners
May 31st, 2009 at 8:23 am
Just dress approximately. Don’t wear sumthing too opened like tanktop or all.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
U can wear anything that u like depend on the situation.
For business I suggest u to wear formal female shirt with “collar” and skirt (trousers)
For party u can wear long dress or gown
For leisure, u can wear T-shirt and jeans
As long it’s not too ****.
Do not wear bikini in supermarket or ***** outside ur home.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
for business, it depends what kind of work you are in to. if you are in creative business, you can wear a nice top and jeans. other than that, don’t wear jeans..a skirt would be nice.
for leisure u can wear pretty much anything..
but t shirt would be more comfortable than tank top
and yeah..u can wear some shorts in mall! it’s even one of trends for youngster in Jakarta right now
other than gala dinner, avoid gown…or u’ll get sweat…
a cocktail dress would be appropriate enough for formal events
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