The Best Thailand Outfit Ideas
Finally starting to pack for your trip and looking for Thailand outfit ideas? This post is a must-read and will make your life so much easier when figuring out what clothing items to put on your Thailand packing list.
When I first started thinking about what I needed on my trip to Thailand, I combed through so many articles about how to dress appropriately (both culturally and for the weather). This took a BUNCH of time, and by the end of it I honestly wasn’t too sure of what I needed and didn’t need.
Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of Thailand outfit ideas and tips to help save you some time and stress.
This post is all about the best Thailand outfit ideas.
THE BEST THAILAND OUTFIT IDEAS & TIPS TO HELP YOU PACK
WHAT TO WEAR IN THAILAND | IMPORTANT NOTES
Before we dive into Thailand outfit ideas, these are a few key things to note when thinking about what to pack.
#1: Thai locals dress conservatively.
Even in the hot, humid Thailand weather, most locals have their shoulders and knees covered. Out of respect for the local culture, aim to dress a bit more modestly. Obviously, a dress code isn’t enforced (except at temples, which is the next point), but leave your low-cut tops, short-shorts and mini-skirts at home. Pack items that are more conservative so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb.
If you’re like me and most of your summer tops and dresses are spaghetti straps or less conservative… don’t fret! In order to avoid buying a whole new wardrobe for this trip, get a few light cover-ups to through on top and voila! You’re good to go. Types of cover-ups I recommend bringing:
- Sarong / light scarf: use to cover your shoulders in hot weather or as a beach cover-up
- Pashmina: versatile for days you’ll be in and out – light enough to carry around outside, but traps heat when you’re inside and the AC is blasting
- Light button-downs: great for when you don’t want to deal with your cover-up potentially falling down (ie. at temples
#2: Thai temples have specific dress codes.
Thailand temple dress code is much more specific than everyday wear, so you should definitely be prepared if you’re planning on including any temple visits on your itinerary. Although it can vary by temple (some being stricter than others), the basic dress code is the following: Shoulders, knees, midriffs, and chests must be covered.
In addition, some temples will have you take off your shoes to enter. so if you don’t want to walk around barefoot, make sure to bring a pair of socks.
One of the stricter temples is the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The dress code here is well-enforced, so you will be prohibited from entering if you don’t abide by it. Here are additional rules for shoulder, knee, midriff, and chest coverage that need you’ll need to consider:
- Ankles must be covered
- No see-through / mesh or ripped clothing
- No tight athletic / gym clothing (ie. leggings)
Worried about not having the right pieces in your closet to bring? Don’t worry! There are often lots of shops nearby the popular temples that sell temple appropriate clothing at reasonable prices (~100 baht / $3 USD). You can snatch a pair of breezy elephant pants before you head in.
#3: You can shop in Thailand for affordable, climate-appropriate clothing.
One of the best things about Thailand is how popular street markets are. You can almost find one in any city you go to. Most of these markets have many clothing vendors that sell light-weight clothing. So if you’re running short of clothes or forget to pack a few items, you can definitely find some modest but breathable clothing items at a street market.
Don’t forget that it’s okay to bargain!
THAILAND OUTFIT IDEAS
#1: BODYSUIT / TANK TOP + MAXI SKIRT
This is absolutely the best outfit to wear for a day of sightseeing, eating, and walking around! This is because it’s:
- Comfortable and breathable. Flowy skirts are amazing for hot weather since your legs aren’t trapped in fabric. I recommend getting one with an elastic waistband for maximum comfort.
- Easy to throw together. Just bring multiple variations of basic bodysuits / tanks and skirts and you can mix and match effortlessly.
- Versatile. By paring it with a cover-up, the outfit is modest enough for most temple dress codes. The cover-up is also super light to carry around when you need to take it off.
- SO cute and personalizable to your own style. Maxi skirts come in so many different colors that it’s easy to find one that you love!
SHOP THIS THAILAND OUTFIT
Floral Maxi Skirt
#2: TANK TOP & ELEPHANT PANTS / FLOWY PANTS
This is a super versatile outfit, but I would definitely recommend for if you’re doing anything in wildlife! The best mosquito repellent is clothing that covers your skin.
Elephant pants are so easy to pair with any tank top and once you arrive in Thailand, you can find them almost everywhere! Most street markets will have vendors who sell them and you can often find them in many stores near tourist areas. They can run anywhere between 100-300 baht each ($3-10). If you’re comfortable, it’s definitely okay to bargain with the vendors to strike a good deal on these!
You’ll LOVE elephant pants because they are extremely lightweight and loose, which will help you stay cooler in hot and humid weather. They are also a great option to wear to temples, since they usually cover your ankles. Pair it with a button-down or scarf to cover your shoulders and you’ll be set.
Here’s a link to the pack of basic tanks I brought to Thailand.
#3: DRESS / JUMPSUIT + SCARF / PASHMINA
This is a good outfit if you’re looking for something a bit more formal for going out to eat or get a drink. Scarfs and pashminas are a perfect way to cover up any strappy dress you might have! I was worried that I couldn’t bring any of my dresses because I wanted to dress modestly, but this pairing made it so I could bring my favorite dresses.
Here’s a link to the Princess Polly black jumpsuit I’m wearing in the photo. I bought the pashmina at a festival stall, but you can find pashminas on Amazon. If you forget, Thailand markets will also have these available.
#4: LIGHT BUTTON DOWN + SHORTS
This outfit idea is another casual one for sightseeing and walking around! Or, throw it on as a beach cover-up when island hopping!
Although short-shorts aren’t recommended (aka try to make sure your booty is tucked in), you can bring a few shorts that are a bit longer. I can’t imagine being anywhere without packing skirts or long pants only, so shorts are nice to have.
To make sure you’re dressing more modestly, I recommend covering up a bit more on top if you’re going to go the shorts route. The best pairing for this is something with sleeves – so my two favorites were a t-shirt or a linen button-down.
Here are the links to exactly what I wore in this photo:
SHOP THIS THAILAND OUTFIT
#5: GRAPHIC TEE + BIKER SHORTS
This outfit is another fantastic everyday go-to, especially if you’re going to be more active. Make sure to bring light clothing, in both weight and color.
Here are the links to exactly what I wore in this photo:
THAILAND PACKING LIST CLOTHING ESSENTIALS
The best way to keep your packing list both comprehensive but simple is to ensure your tops can be mixed and matched with your bottoms. This will make it super easy to decide what to wear each day. Taken from the Thailand outfit ideas above, below is how you should organize your packing list. Make sure that all the fabrics that you bring are very lightweight since it will be humid and hot.
- T-shirts: Have a good mix of graphic tees and basic tees that you know will pair with bottoms
- Tank tops / Bodysuits: Bringing neutrals will make it super easy to mix and match (white, black, taupe, etc).
- Button-downs: Light-weight button downs are AMAZING for cover-ups or can add more dimension to your outfit.
- Skirts: Bring a mix of these, but make sure they’re at least closer to knee length. Maxi skirts will be the most versatile to bring.
- Pants: Flowy, light-weight pants are the best to bring. If you need long pants and can’t find any in your wardrobe, wait and get a pair of elephant pants in Thailand! Would also recommend bringing a pair of long pants just in case.
- Shorts: Don’t bring any short-shorts – opt for something a bit looser. They’ll be more comfortable anyway!
- Dresses / Jumpsuits: These are fantastic for just throwing on and going since you only have to worry about one-piece!
- Scarf / Pashmina: Perfect for throwing over any outfit as a coverup.