Both men and women from the southern part of
Thailand wear batik-patterned sarongs, often with brightly colored
designs. Costume in the South is heavily influenced by the Muslim
styles of neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia.
Women commonly wear lacy blouses
that are worn loosely outside their sarongs and open at the front
in the Malaysian 'Yaya' style. A shawl, in conformity with Muslim
beliefs, usually covers head and shoulders. The men prefer to go
shirtless or sometimes wear white shirts, long black pants, and
a hat that can inevitably be seen in the 'rong ngeng' dance.
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