The traditional Malay costumes are something to marvel at. These traditional Malay costumes are usually worn during special occasions such as Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, weddings and sometimes visits to relatives. But then, these beautiful costumes can be worn at anytime too!
FOR THE LADIES
Baju Kurung
The baju kurung is a simple knee-length blouse worn over a long skirt pleated at the side. The outfit is completed with a selendang or tudung around the shoulders or on the head. It can be matched with the kain songket, batik and even pelikat. Nowadays, the baju kurung can be found in different styles. These clothes are being tailored so that they suit the person wearing it. Among them are baju kurung labuh, baju kurung moden, baju kurung cekak, baju kurung Kedah and more.
These ladies are wearing baju kurung and selendang / tudung (head scarves)
Baju Kebaya
The baju kebaya is a lot more form fitting compared to the baju kurung and is normally quite flattering. This makes the baju kebaya quite popular with the Malay community as well as the non-Malays. The baju kebaya is usually matched with the kain songket or batik.
Tze in a beautiful traditional kebaya from Kim, and a silk sarong
fastened around the waist from Cross Batik. Click here to view more.
Selendang
Among the Muslims, another mandatory piece of clothing is the scarf called either the tudung or selendang. The selendang is used to adorn the hair. It has been part of the Malay women’s wardrobe for ages and you can see plenty of beautiful choices available these days.
The modern way of wearing selendang / tudung with pair of jeans and flip-flops.
MENS WEAR
Baju Melayu
One can see the baju melayu on a grand display during special occasions or on Fridays for the Friday prayers. Other than being matched with the seluar (trousers), the baju melayu can also be worn with the kain pelikat. If the shirt, trousers and the samping are worn in a smiliar colour, fabric or pattern and in matching styles, then it is known as sedondon. The baju melayu is worn either in the style of kain berdagang luar or kain berdagang dalam. In the kain berdagang luar style, the shirt is worn outside the trousers and covers part of the sampin. In the kain berdagang dalam, the sampin is worn outside the dress and it covers the lower part of the shirt.
Malay boy wearing songkok (traditional Malay cap) and baju melayu.
Songkok
The songkok (traditional Malay cap) is a headdress worn with the traditional outfit for Malay men. The songkok is well designed from plain black to embroidered and from cotton to velvet. It is mostly worn during festive occasions such as Hari Raya and weddings as well as religious events such as kenduri (feasts), prayers and funerals.
Tanjak or Tengkolok
Just as hats, berets and caps are suited to their particular dressings in the Western world, the Malay tanjak or tengkolok is worn and complements exquisitely the traditional full Malay costume or baju melayu. The tanjak or tengkolok is actually a four-sided cloth that is folded expertly into a head-kerchief. It is usually worn at traditional Malay weddings by the groom during the bersanding ceremony and the tanjak he wears usually matches the wedding suit. The tanjak or tengkolok are worn during formal and public ceremonies as well.
Tanjak / Tengkolok
Source: www.pahang-delights.com, www.estamysite.com, Jusco Pearl Magazine.
Photographs courtesy of Inmagine.com and www.pahang-delights.com