Back in the 1970s Miami Beach was a neglected beach resort populated mostly by ancient retirees in moldy art-deco apartment buildings. The male of the elderly snowbird species ate at Wolfie’s Deli sporting Sta-press shirts polyester plaid trousers and gleaming white shoes, while strolling along the beach, hoping to meet a blue-haired widow with a little extra income. The early-bird specials packed the local restaurants with these senior lovers resplendent in their outmoded attire, but by sunset the sidewalks were empty. Everyone was home asleep, but that somnambulence was vanquished by the trendification of South Beach in the 90s. The decaying hotels were renovated by New York hoteliers, the rooms were filled with hipsters, and the night was animated by bars and discos for the first time since MIAMI VICE. The city was re-born as a super cool destination and Pattaya seems to be undergoing the same process as luxury condos replace decrepit beach resorts with hopes of replacing the its faithful clientele of European sex tourists with more fashionable tourists from the Pacific Rim.

Gucci instead of tee-shirts. Prada taking over from knock-offs. Upper-class Thais from Bangkok besmitten by the need to display their success with au courrant styles will exiled the lager louts and steroid juice monkeys from Walking Street the same way Madonna pushed Meyer Lansky’s widow off the throne of Miami Beach.

This transition will take time, ensuring Pattaya’s position as the most unfashionable city in Asia.

Dressing well is considered a sign of respect for yourselves and those around you, so Thais can’t understand why farangs dress so badly in their wifebeater t-shirts with soiled shorts, and grubby sneakers. Thailand is a very conservative country, despite its fame for go-go girls and sex. Toplessness for men might be fine for the beach, but Thais cringe seeing bare-chested football supporters wandering through Lotus or  but it seems to be all farangs who don’t understand what kind of impression you give by dressing like a slob; backpackers
Now imagine this, Thais don’t sunbathe topless, in fact they don’t sunbathe at all, if they did you can bet it wouldn’t be topless. Imagine what they would think seeing you with your breasts exposed to the world, or worse still, going for a skinny dip! You are in their country. I’m sure you would turn your nose up at a bunch of Indian tourists sitting at the bottom of your garden spitting out bright red paan. I suppose you just have to remember where you are.

Thais judge you by the way you dress, and status is very important to them. Sure, they’ve seen loads of scruffy backpackers passing through so they’re used to it, however, they won’t be terribly friendly or respectful of you. If you need something from an official, such as visa extension, then you’d better get you Sunday best on (well, not quite, but a collared shirt, long pants or knee-length dress/skirt with covered shoulders works much better).

Of course, temples are places of worship and held in high regard by all Thais, so please, carry a pair of long pants and sleeved shirt and pop them on when you want to enter these sanctuaries.

Chiang Mai is pretty casual, but by dressing well when meeting with Thais (particularly important ones) you are demonstrating that you are taking them seriously and they’ll more willingly help you. Silk tunics are a popular accessory for men, and although the traditional Northern dress (or the ubiquitous blue denim shirt) is usually reserved for Fridays and special occasions, you’ll always get smiles of approval from the locals for wearing their unique costume.

In general, people in Chiang Mai dress for the weather, which can be searing hot in April and pretty darned cold (especially in the mountains) during the winter (Nov – Mar). Footwear is particularly casual and slip-ons or flip-flops work best because you’ll frequently be removing them when you go indoors. Thais wear them to work, climb mountains in them, go running, ride bicycles – you name it.

Since most Asian girls feel a little short, they usually pump themselves up on heels. They also hate getting suntanned, so they tend to cover themselves from head to toe. In general, urban Thais dress well; in the rural areas they dress in what they have.

As in every county in the world, certain traditions seem to peter out, and rules and strictures gradually hold less of a grip over the people. Twenty years ago you would not have seen young Thai girls dressed in mini skirts and tank tops wandering around with their belly buttons hanging out. When it comes to fashion, it seems that these days scant dressing is accepted, although you may be frowned at if you venture out in the streets wearing nothing but your hot pants and bra. Well, when in Rome, do as the… anyway you get the message, keep your eye out for the