Sarong or So Wrong?

[Cowher]

This sarong is in a tartan looking cloth. Perhaps we can think of it as a long kilt?

[O'Callaghan]

I wore sarongs a bit before I started wearing kilts.

They are certainly unisex, although apparently in Indonesia the men's sarongs are chequered and the patterns represent the wearer's house. Sound much like clan tartans? The women seem to get to wear any colourful pattern they fancy.

However, in the West any design goes on sarongs for either gender. Sarongs with celtic knot patterns are readily available, and I have worn them, even though I doubt that they resemble anything worn by our celtic forebears.

I was forever tripping over the hem of my sarong, so that I was always shortening them, or rather tearing off the damaged part, LOL! Maybe that's because they were all one size and I am a bit vertically challenged. Knee length is more my style, as even if a kilt may look long on me to some, at least I can't trip over it!

As for the heat, you can get kilts in light weights and in cooler fabrics, or just with fewer pleats if you don't like those options.

There's also the issue of a sarong being a non-tailored garment, and so automatically informal. I have only once even seen a woman wear a sarong on a city street, and never a man, and I think that's the reason, although I'm sure you would see this in parts of Asia.

[James Hood]

Ha! 'Sitting here in midwest USA summer heat and humidity in a tied pareo (Tahitian vaerion of a sarong) and it is tres comfortable and minimal.

Personal feelings on this subject are two.
(1) "Normal" is not enough

(2) Variety is way too underrated

[Laird_M]

Don't know how I missed this thread...

I have 4 sarongs - 1 evening wear and three3 casual and aside from the 'formal' one, they all get regular use. Especially now I have the slight overhang to keep them up properly.

I wore them pretty often in Sri Lanka and the locals accepted it with no issues.
In warm weather, I wear them around the house, especially when we have guests around for a curry evening - the wife is Sinhalese after all.

I do find them a bit more restrictive than a kilt, but just as comfortable.

[herminator]

I have many longyis - "Burma style sarongs". I wear them daily at home, mostly casual, but when I entertain guests of for holidays I like to wear the silk ones! ;-)

It is part of my history having lived in Myanmar for some years as a child and being in love with that country.

Questions? --> PM!

Shalom
Hermann

[Meggers]

Haha...the only sarongs I have are definitely "so wrong" and I'm a woman! I got one as a gift and it is bright blue with dolphins all over it.....hmm....

But have fun wearing yours! Who cares what you wear when you're just chilling anyway? Just dont wear it out or you might end up here: peopleofwalmart.com

[CDNSushi]

Just dont wear it out or you might end up here: peopleofwalmart.com

Baloney! I wear mine out all the time and everywhere. If some prepubescent nitwit wants to snap a photo of me and post it somewhere because he's got nothing better to do, I don't care. I don't dress for anyone but myself and will wear whatever I please when I go out.

Sarongs are fine, but I don't have the cultural right to wear one.

What does that even mean? Are you saying that an American baby adopted into a Burmese family wouldn't have the cultural right to wear one either? Having befriended enough Burmese and Sri Lankans over the years gives me the cultural right as it demonstrates that I have respect and appreciation for their traditional garments.

I also do wear kimono, including "tabi" socks, "fundoshi" underwear, and "geta" sandals. I also cook Japanese food in my kitchen, speak Japanese with my non-Japanese and very Canadian wife, and it doesn't bother me one bit that I have no Japanese blood in me.

I think people get way too caught up in what they feel entitled to do based on their culture, upbringing, or geographical location. We have no choice about when/where/to whom we are born. As such, to a certain extent I think that excessive pride and association with something that I had no choice in is a little silly. I feel that I am a citizen of the world and have the freedom to express myself with a corresponding level of freedom.

[Bugbear]

What does that even mean? Are you saying that an American baby adopted into a Burmese family wouldn't have the cultural right to wear one either? Having befriended enough Burmese and Sri Lankans over the years gives me the cultural right as it demonstrates that I have respect and appreciation for their traditional garments.

I also do wear kimono, including "tabi" socks, "fundoshi" underwear, and "geta" sandals. I also cook Japanese food in my kitchen, speak Japanese with my non-Japanese and very Canadian wife, and it doesn't bother me one bit that I have no Japanese blood in me.

I think people get way too caught up in what they feel entitled to do based on their culture, upbringing, or geographical location. We have no choice about when/where/to whom we are born. As such, to a certain extent I think that excessive pride and association with something that I had no choice in is a little silly. I feel that I am a citizen of the world and have the freedom to express myself with a corresponding level of freedom.

CDNSushi, you are participating in those cultures; I am not, and that is all I am saying.

[CDNSushi]

CDNSushi, you are participating in those cultures; I am not, and that is all I am saying.

Ahh, but there's the rub. You, me, everyone, all have the choice to participate in any culture -- whether it be by attire, food, language, dance... By eating at an Italian restaurant you are participating in Italian culture. I have never heard anyone say: "Um, can we not go to Luigi's Pizza? I just don't feel culturally entitled to eat Italian food. I'm not Italian." That would be really odd.

So why are there such hang-ups about attire? ith:

[Bugbear]

Ahh, but there's the rub. You, me, everyone, all have the choice to participate in any culture -- whether it be by attire, food, language, dance... By eating at an Italian restaurant you are participating in Italian culture. I have never heard anyone say: "Um, can we not go to Luigi's Pizza? I just don't feel culturally entitled to eat Italian food. I'm not Italian." That would be really odd.

So why are there such hang-ups about attire? ith:

That would probably be Italian-American food, no, they (the pizza place owners) are participating in my culture; not the other way around.

* Edit: sorry, I didn't answer this. "So why are there such hang-ups about attire?"
Probably from being attacked for or accused of ruining someone else's culture all the time, and pretty much most of my life. Guess it's my problem.