Making an impression with batik for all occassions<\/p>\n
By Muara Bagdja<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Long-sleeved batik shirts came into their own as
\nformal attire for men on the level of the business suit during
\nthe heyday of then Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
But batik is flexible and can also be worn for daily use. Men
\ncan wear short-sleeved cotton batik, similar to Hawaiian shirts,
\nfor casual times. A collarless batik is even more understated in
\nstyle.<\/p>\n
Women can also use batik as casual and light informal dress,
\nlike a sleeveless blouse or sundress. Today's urban women tend to
\nwear batik as sarongs in line with the rising popularity of
\nkebaya (traditional blouses) beginning a few years ago.<\/p>\n
Women are also fond of batik shawls, worn over a plain black
\ngown for various occasions.<\/p>\n
For art and cultural events, ethnically themed batik is often
\nused to accentuate the marriage of Indonesian cultural heritage
\nwith modern clothes.<\/p>\n
Batik designs have ceaselessly kept on changing and developing
\nin tune with the current times.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s men preferred batik shirts with motifs made of
\nprada (gold ink) for formal wear, but today's trend is back to
\nbrownish hues.<\/p>\n
Similar changes took place in batik for women's dress. After
\nthe previous decade's popularity of batik in large designs with a
\ntouch of prada, the favorite today (and also considered most
\nmodern) for kebaya and shawls is batik on woven cloth in pastel
\ncolors.<\/p>\n
A word of caution in choosing the appropriate batik clothes,
\nbecause of specific motifs and color.<\/p>\n
Darker colors tend to be more striking on fair skin and that
\nis why such batik colors look particularly striking when worn by
\nexpatriates with fair skin.<\/p>\n
Those with darker skin should be more careful with dark
\ncolored or brownish batik. Soft hued batik, which is today's
\ntrend, or an entirely black background will be more fitting.<\/p>\n
Batik with small motifs in soft colors make women look more
\nattractive.<\/p>\n
Men will look more dashing in batik with strongly distinct
\nmotifs, like geometrical motifs in regular and repeated patterns.<\/p>\n
Batik shirts with dark colors as background, like dark brown,
\nlook more formal and appealing worn with dark colored or black
\npants.<\/p>\n
For both formal and informal occasions, depending on the
\nmotif, taste and shape of the body, batik shirts can be worn
\ninside or outside the trousers.<\/p>\n
Rather than hiding interesting motifs, it is recommended the
\nshirt be worn outside the trousers to enhance the beauty of the
\nmotifs, while geometrical motifs are acceptable either way. Of
\ncourse, for potbellied men, it is better to have the batik shirt
\noutside the pants.<\/p>\n
For formal events, it is essential to wear long-sleeved batik
\nbut long or short sleeves, regular collars, a Chinese-style
\ncollar or batik fabric in the form of a jacket are all acceptable
\nfor informal events.<\/p>\n
Shawls<\/p>\n
Batik is frequently an accessory in the form of a shawl.
\nWomen love to adorn their black gowns with a batik shawl, which
\nis a practical way to appear formal. Of course, the batik should
\nbe of high quality in an elegant presentation, and not just any
\npiece of fabric to merely wrap the body.<\/p>\n
For informal occasions, men can also wear a batik wrap or
\nscarf hung round the neck, in the style of yesteryear Jakartans,
\nover a plain shirt or a closed Nehru jacket with a standing
\ncollar.<\/p>\n
In the book Busana Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National
\nDress), Edward Hutabarat said men might wear batik shirts as
\nformal national dress for the following occasions:<\/p>\n
* official state dinners<\/p>\n
* cultural missions<\/p>\n
* conferring of awards<\/p>\n
* appointment or transfer of governmental posts<\/p>\n
* launching of new products<\/p>\n
* officiating at exhibitions, new buildings, offices and so
\nforth<\/p>\n
* wedding parties<\/p>\n
* birthday parties<\/p>\n
* gala dinners<\/p>\n
For the same occasions women can wear batik dresses, but a
\nsarong with kebaya or kurung (long tunic) is more advisable. A
\nmodification of a traditional dress is acceptable, including a
\ngown, as long as an accessory made of \"traditional textile\" is
\nadded, which in this case can be a batik shawl.<\/p>\n
It is uncommon for men to use batik for office wear (unless
\nthey are civil servants). However, it is OK for women to wear
\nbatik to work, as long as the motifs and colors are not loud or
\nglaring, and such a blouse will look well under a jacket or a
\nblazer.<\/p>\n
Muara Bagdja is a fashion writer based in Jakarta. Questions?
\nContact him at sundaypost@thejakartapost.com.<\/p>",
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