How Thai Royal Fashion Embraced Western Style in the 1800s

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Transcript

00:00You're probably familiar with a traditional shu thai, a sabai, bare shoulders, and a skirt.

00:06But did you know that in the late 1800s, Thailand's royal women embraced a very different style?

00:12This is the se khan mu hem, or ham-sleeved blouse inspired by European fashion during the reign of King Rama V.

00:19The blouse was tight at the waist, decorated with lace, and featured dramatically puff sleeves that narrowed at the wrist,

00:26just like in Victorian England or Russian courts.

00:29It became popular in the Siamese royal court around 1895.

00:34Yet it wasn't just copy-paste.

00:36Thai women still wore the Tsongra Bayan and styled their hair in traditional updos.

00:41You can still see this iconic style today in school parades or cultural events.

00:46It's another timeless choice for people who want to try to wear Thai traditional clothing.