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Malaysia is a wonderful mix of traditional SE Asian, Indian, and Chinese cultures; the national motto is “Unity From Diversity,” and people seem to live this every day. In addition to warm and friendly locals Malaysia has interesting sights and temples; islands for scuba diving and swimming; and vibrant cosmopolitan cities.
Follow these tips to learn more about what to wear in Malaysia!
What to Wear in Malaysia
Written by: Phebe Schwartz
Travel
The island of Langkawi is a laid-back tropical paradise. In the island of Penang, Georgetown street art is Insta-worthy mural heaven and it’s also an architectural treasure, too. Melakka is the same. Kuala Lumpur is a thriving metropolis full of museums, shopping malls and open air markets, a philharmonic orchestra, and uber modern futuristic architecture.
The national flower, the hibiscus, is seen everywhere, from the money to the lampposts. Monkeys can be found just outside the city, there are firefly colonies along the river, there are elephant sanctuaries and traditional orang asli (literally “original people”) villages where people live without electricity and grow or hunt their food. The whole country is beautiful and complex.
Style and Culture
Walking around the capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL), we see women in skirts and tops, jeans, shorts, robes that cover from neck to toe with colorful headscarves, saris, kurtas, anarkali and fitted slacks. There’s a little bit of everything here, in a wonderful fusion of style and culture.
When planning what to wear in Malaysia, think about adding lightweight airy fabrics in vibrant prints and colors to your travel capsule wardrobe. Color is a major element in fashion.
Tip: Want to pack light, use packing cubes to compress your clothing as shown in this video!
Shopping
And the shopping! I especially like the Central Market, with the building dating back to 1888, full of places to buy souvenirs, food, and clothing.
Although you’ll carefully plan what to wear in Malaysia, you could easily arrive in KL and go straight to the market and buy absolutely everything you need for a wardrobe: slacks, skirts, dresses, tops, sweaters, jackets, all in gorgeous batiks or cottons perfect for the climate. Even shoes, handbags, and luggage are available! (Okay, so bring your underthings.)
But you won’t find strapless dresses, or short shorts, or even spaghetti straps. This a predominantly Muslim country, and while tourists often flout the cultural norms, this also opens them up to being perceived as something other than they may wish.
Outside of Kuala Lumpur, shoulders and knees should be mostly covered, but sleeveless seems to be acceptable. When in doubt, do as the locals do!
Climate
Malaysia is also tropical, running between 2 to 7 degrees north of the equator. Think breathable and flowing fabrics.
Your capsule wardrobe for Malaysia should include:
Tops
Several lightweight tops – these are all either cotton or rayon.
Shorts or a skirt
– should be about knee-length.
A midi-skirt that can also be worn as a strapless dress is a good idea, though I’d save that for evenings at clubs, or beach resorts.
Dress
– A print dress that can work under any of the tops, especially if you belt the top for a more fitted look.
Slacks
– Include a cotton pair, and other breathable trousers.
Include a sweater,
– especially if you’re going to the central highlands, where it can get chilly.
And remember a scarf or shawl
– for evenings as well as temple or mosque visits.
Stick with flats or wedge sandals
– The roads and sidewalks seem to rarely stay flat, so don’t plan on high heels.
Consider including a pair of rubber or plastic shoes,
-the tropical rains come and go whether it’s monsoon season or not.
And go crazy with the color
– really, you’ll rarely see someone in solid black and no color here!
Well, except the occasional woman covered in head-to-toe black robes. Feel free to mix orange and pink, or red and turquoise, it all seems to work!
Add Malaysia to your travel list, it really is a great country – don’t miss it!
What are your tips on what to wear in Malaysia? Please comment below!
For more Asian Packing Lists, please read:
- Japan Packing List: What to Pack for Kyoto
- What to Wear in Cambodia: Cities, Jungles, and Beaches
- Do’s and Don’ts of Womens Travel Clothing in South East Asia
- Thailand Islands Packing List
Suggested Travel Resources:
- Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring
- Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei (Travel Guide)
I hope you found this post on what to wear in Malaysia useful. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: Phebe Schwartz started traveling and living overseas at age 19, and haven’t stopped. Her career has included two years in Africa with the Peace Corps, and a three month trip home from there. As a result of living in Liberia, West Africa, she found a job teaching art in the US Virgin Islands, where she spent 25 wonderful years. Now retired, she and her husband are just traveling the world and having the time of their lives; the plan is to have no plan, the philosophy is that where they end up is where they are meant to be. Follow their adventure at their travel blog: Rolling Luggagers.
I traveled to Penang several times and one piece of advice I would give is not to worry about makeup too much. You will sweat it right off! 💦
Quite frankly speaking, it’s been interesting to read through the pins, good Information about Malaysia…..i like.
Hi Faith, thank you so much for your lovely feedback, so pleased you have found the blog helpful!! 🙂
Since off the shoulder tops are the in trend in the US for spring and summer would you recommend not to wear it in Penang and Kuala Lumpur?
Hi Gigi, they should be fine to wear here. If you go into a religious site, wear a scarf over your shoulders.
Anything that could handle sweat. That’s for sure.
Cotton is and anything loose. That’s what we recommend in Malaysia
Great tips Lela!
Most Malaysians dress the same way as most people do. But a lot of Muslim women wear long robe/dress and head scarves. On special occasions, people from each ethnic group will wear their traditional attires.
Thanks for sharing Alicia! Great tips!
Thank you for your tips!
Thanks for reading!
So sorry, I had written my piece as a reply to a comment in this article. Sorry about that.
Really enjoy your posts and adventures Alex. Hope you don’t mind my comment as I felt obliged to share this as a Malaysian. My colleagues were mostly offended but I knew as a tourist, it really depends where you are in Malaysia. It is so diverse , you can perceive it in totally two opposite ways, as I always tell my foreign friends and colleagues who come to Malaysia for the first time.
Good to know Malaysia prefers not to have spaghetti straps or strapless tops and dresses. Your guide is great to have to know what this predominately Muslim country prefers and how to respect their traditions.
Thank you Brooke 🙂
Hi, I’m sorry but I beg to differ. As a Malaysian I was quite taken aback, I feel it’s really wrong to say ‘Malaysia prefers not to have spaghetti straps or strapless tops and dresses’. As you said, Malaysia is wonderfully diverse and it is the very multicultural society that we live in that makes up for all kinds of styles and fashions. I for one, have lived in spaghetti straps, shorts and strapless tops and dresses all my life so it came a little bit of a shock to read what was written.
Of course in smaller towns and in the east coast of Malaysia, where it is predominantly more Muslim, it will be more appropriate to dress modestly. But coming back to the city and and other capitals and islands in the west coast, baby bring your shorts and strapless and sundresses, because it’s what we tropical babes do !
I am a Malaysian and like Nikki, I feel that I ought to say something here.
Even though Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, it is still a diverse, multiracial and multicultural nation. In cities, suburbs, towns and tourist spots, or anywhere for that matter, non-Muslims are free to dress as they wish, though there is a need to take into consideration where one is and cultural sensitivity is very important here. Nevertheless, women dressed in shorts, spaghetti straps or strapless tops and dresses is not an uncommon sight. While it is important to respect Muslim traditions by dressing appropriately in predominantly Muslim populated areas, we are not a Taliban country.
It is erroneous to say that you can’t find strapless dresses, short shorts and spaghetti straps here, it is the tropics for goodness sake! The different races in Malaysia DO dress like that. Have a walk in shopping malls, you can find plenty of such clothing. Even markets, such as those in the suburbs, Chinatown or places where you can find non Muslims, do sell such clothing!
I feel the need to correct this statement – “Outside of Kuala Lumpur, shoulders and knees should be mostly covered” – Well, hear it from someone who grew up in a small town in a state which is predominantly Muslim, this is so not true! And this statement “really, you’ll rarely see someone in solid black and no color here!” – This is a ridiculous statement. Our fashion sense is much more diverse than just being “colourful”. 🙂
Thanks for the feedback Lily. Sometimes as a foreigner, it’s just easier to draw less attention to ourselves and dress respectfully for an entire region 😉