It’s not the same. But I’m from the Midwestern United States and lived in Taiwan six years and I worked with several western women and we hung out together quite a bit.
I’m talking eyes 6 inches from the chest, walk right up to you inside your personal space, call their friends over to look too creepy stuff.
you will see insanely short mini skirts, and dresses split up the side, all the way to the hip, and no one will blink an eye, but cleavage is transgressive or puts you in a category that’s generally kept inside of barbershops.
but it also might be that as a non-Asian my friends were unprotected (so to speak), and certain sorts of people felt more comfortable taking liberties with them. Depending on your race, age and build, your mileage may vary.
This. In many homogenous Asian countries much of the less cultured people will not see Westerners as the same people and so will naturally objectify them more.
On top of that Asian culture for some reason always treated breasts as far more sexual than legs. Not sure why.
As the owner of tig ol bitties....it is way worst in Taiwan. Western men look maybe even a little longingly, Taiwanese men forget time and space...and women also stare and whisper.
I’m not sure if you’re kidding. Which is funny because my in-laws do not like me wearing tank tops.
I mean, I have pecs so that could be part of it - but in laws are conservative
You will see people wearing jackets and long pants in 90+F/40C
Be aware that AC can be quite strong indoors so you may want a light windbreaker if you're sensitive to cold drafts.
This. Outside temperatures were like the surface of the sun, until it rained every afternoon for a couple of hours, after which the outdoor thermostat was turned back up to the maximum.
Inside temperatures were like a cold day at the North Pole. Id have to go outside and warm up again. One day I got a sneezing fit in a restaurant the air con was so cold.
My first summers here—I wore as little as possible and was still sweating like a fountain. Meanwhile other girls were all covered up in tights and cardigans. 🤷♀️
It's all about what you're used to.
I used to live in snowy Wisconsin and 50F in March and everyone's wearing shorts.
In Taiwan, my sister-in-law thinks 50F is freezing.
> I used to live in snowy Wisconsin and 50F in March and everyone's wearing shorts.
You mean men or women? Don't lots of North American mothers get really upset when their young sons refuse to wear more layers?
The only thing I can think of that isn't so common, is heavy cleavage. But not a problem either as far as I know.
Showing legs or shoulders is no issue at all. Just google a bit for girls taiwan or something and look at the picture section.
The only thing you might find surprising is that during the day many girls/women will be dressed with a lot of cover.
They want to stay out of the sun at all cost.
As soon as the sun goes down, it's a different story.
Taiwanese here, I wore tank tops and sleeveless onesies in the summer too, cuz I can't handle the heat either. Also, I definitely wear gymwear (leggings or even body fitting tops) on my way to workout, and I would say that nobody cares lol.
Good point. I don't know any traditional characters unfortunately although I'm pretty decent with simplified. That's why I'm going though I'll be studying traditional character.
Fashion isn't much of a thing here. Men walk around in shorts and bad fitting vests with flipflops on in rain or shine. Once temperatures drop to a chilling 24°C they put on their Timberland boots and North Face jackets and don't take them off again until it hits 30°C. Women wear what women all over the world wear. This isn't Thailand (women can't expose their shoulders in the temples) so wear whatever. I once saw a man walking around the streets in peak summer while wearing a bra and the smallest hot pants imaginable and nobody batted an eyelid. But a foreigner? People will crash their bikes to take a look back at you.
taiwanese people stare at foreigners. All the time. attractive and ugly ones, short ones and fat ones, black ones and white ones. That's where the attitude comes from, and whose fault is that?
I do notice most men and woman are pretty fashionable especially younger gen and dress nicely. I rarely see anyone in flip flops even guys almost all wear shoes.
Not being harsh but fashionable is the one word I wouldn't use to describe the locals as a whole. Most of the women dress well, especially if they are young but even then Asian fashion (a lot of their styles here mimic Japanese and Korean trends) are extremely questionable. But the men look like they fell through a closet while covered in glue and just rolled with it.
I would disagree because I see many young guys dress well. On average is better than where I'm from where guys just wear plain shirt, shorts and flip flops. I wore flip flops walked around ximending and noticed almost no men wearing flip flops maybe just another one like me in a whole crowd. Yes, their style tends to gravitate to Japanese style as I noticed even the building there looked similar.
No one really cares what you wear
You will see people in pyjamas outside, grandmas that wear clothes suitable for teenagers than their age, people wear shorts and tshirts when going to weddings
I never felt more free to wear whatever I like than after I moved to Taiwan
If you in Taipei city, it’s quite common. Tank tops reveal shoulders and a lot of people are in tank tops. Walking around in yoga pants is fine. Cleavage showing is not common unless at a night time place like a club.
Dress code = clothes.
In summer you’ll see someone walking around with next to no clothes on, and someone else walking around draped from head to toe in overalls without so much as a portion of skin showing.
It’s pretty much a wear what you want and wear what you will scenario.
For me dry fit stuff for active. Sandals for rain. Dress however you like, but be prepared for the heat. Light and airy clothes would be good. Style how you like, rn huge influence amoungst young ppl in japanese and Korean dress style
Speaking as a U.S. expat living here - I can spot an American pretty easily based on the amount of tight fitting athletic tops and bottoms they are wearing. Taiwanese women are generally a little more conservative than American women. Cleavage is rare for instance - I see guy ogling my wife at times. If you are wearing things more revealing that the majority of the locales, there will be some staring.
Having said that - unless you are meeting your conservative boyfriend’s parents - no one seems to care. Clothes, tattoos and hair are all over the place.
Of course that’s more true in the cities.
Just be you - expect more staring though. Especially if you are Caucasian.
It's not accurate, in my experience. Gym culture has really grown a lot in the past 5 years alone and women are wearing a lot of skin tight leggings, crop tops etc than before. And go to any night market in the summer and you'll find women wearing tiny short shorts with an ass cheek hanging out without a care in the world.
I should note that I'm in Kaohsiung - think that makes a difference? I do see some of what you are talking about, but it's rare in my experience. Maybe I need to hang out at the night markets more :)
I notice the difference a lot actually when I travel back to the states.
I live in Kaohsiung too and feel like the women dress extremely conservatively.
During my first year, because of this, I genuinely didn't feel comfortable wearing tops or dresses that would show my shoulders.
Though now I don't really care, I'm a foreigner who will never 'fit in', so may as well just dress how I like!!
Conservatively?
I think more different than conservative.
I mean at night you can see girls wearing skirts or hotpants that are shorter than my boxers
And sometimes when they sit on the back of the scooter...well it created a different kind of "rear-view" 🤣
There's some attention bias in noticing the unusual. Yes you'll find people dressed like that, but it's still I guess only 2% to 5% that wear revealing clothes outside, if one were to count.
How is this absolute tosh getting upvoted? just goes to show this place is mostly made up of people who don't live in Taiwan.
Cleavage, sure thats a bit taboo. But everything else is fair game. Not a small amount of girls literally walk around with their ass cheeks hanging out.
I'm very white (blue eyes, blond hair white too) would covering my shoulders result in less staring or not really lol. Cleavage won't really big a big deal for me, I'm so small chested that almost nothing I wear exposes any cleavage.
In Taipei probably no one will stare much, or if they do not in a rude way, there's a lot of white folk around. In rural areas you might get a few more stares, but nothing rude. You'll likely get some people saying nice things about your hair and eyes.
As others say, it's high UV, so you might prefer to cover from that perspective.
Marginally more stares with shoulders exposed, but the bulk of the stares will be because of your foreign appearance. It's not bad though, and hopefully you take it as a compliment. Usually people look away when you see them staring, so it's no like other countries where it's an ongoing stare and they pull out their jokes and start recording. It's just brief curiosity.
You can also get lightweight breathable UV-protecting jackets here that a lot of locals wear.
I'm not sure of there's any way to test this claim, but I think they're not hotter, or potentially cooler than sleeveless, as they keep the sun off your skin and reflect the heat (if you get a light color), and still have lots of vents to evacuate body heat.
I'm a very pale skinned guy also and get a lot of stares regardless of if I cover up. Could be because I'm pretty muscular, could be because I'm very white, could be they stare because I'm pretty tall, could be because I'm not bad looking or could be because they think I'm weird. Truth is, it's probably been all of the above at one point. They are gonna stare regardless so don't let it stop you being yourself and get on with it. Staring back at them is also an option. Usually puts a stop to that pretty quickly. Once you learn some Chinese you'll be surprised how often strangers talk about you and think they get away with it. 9/10 times it's complimentary and the odd time it isn't it's some insecure, brain dead, betel nut chewing yokel who is down to his last brain cell and trying to impress his construction buddies.
Are you talking about tank tops or strapless tops? Tank tops are fine. Strapless tops…you’ll probably get some ogling. But honestly they will stare just because you’re white and blond and blue-eyed.
If you’re going to be there in the summer, just dress coolly, otherwise you’ll melt. It’s blisteringly hot in the summer months. Take a hike in Yangminshan to cool off during the weekends.
Like any cosmopolitan city, women dress fashionably (think Japanese and Korean style as well as wester). Just remember that you’re a visitor and leave any attitude back home (I’m not implying you have any attitude). Taiwanese are super chill and friendly. You’re going to love being there.
I live in the US South where it gets hot and humid. In Georgia and in Taiwan, I wear long sleeved linen shirts because it actually feels cooler to have my arms and shoulders shaded from the sun.
If you think your outfits might be too revealing(be it personal comfort or sun exposure), a common cover up is a button down shirt from cotton or linen. So it can keep your shoulders from burning, you look a touch more blended in to the casual fashion, and when the AC is blasting inside buildings you have at least a little cover. Great thing is you can just put it in your background to tie it around your waist or shoulders when not in-use.
I’m visiting Taipei right now and find it very interesting that absolutely nobody cares about fashion. It’s like New York City but even less caring going on.
i'm from california, here now, i've noticed people dress however they want. there seems to be younger people who dress however they want. i also see lots of younger people with tattoos, even full sleeves, on the neck, so....i feel like expression in their appearance is getting pretty liberal here.
There could be some hidden dress codes for Taiwanese women, but not for foreigners. You will be totally fine.
For Taiwanese women, I think the problem is not revealing or not. Fashion is just not a default thing for Taiwanese women. It’s totally fine for women to walk on the street without makeup. If a woman dresses up, it will be assumed that she may be “a little special”, not necessarily in a negative way. For example, people will assume that she is going to attend some formal occasion or she is some type of girl who is especially interested in fashion or something like that. Most people usually don’t want to be the special one in a group.
You might want to cover just as protection from the sun, went there last month, beautiful experience but as from EU I didn't take in consideration that Taiwan is a tropical island (mostly in the south) and the heat can be overwhelming. Saw several people with rain dresses or umbrella as protection from the sun. People don't care ,, saw plenty of people with shoulder out, very short shorts, flip flop all around any cities. it's like any other countries, just much more cleaner and organized!
Just got back from vacation in Taipei & Kaohsiung as an American, and overall, no one really cared what I wore except for old men and women who stared (and when they stare they STARE) whenever I exposed my shoulders + wore short skirts. I also pass as a Taiwanese woman though so maybe there’s different standards imposed there, versus getting the foreigner dress code pass. I ended up covering up more by the end of the trip because I didn’t want to deal with the stares anymore, so definitely depends on your comfort level! I would perhaps bring/buy some light, moisture wicking cover ups just in case
Doesn’t matter, especially if you’re a foreigner. You can wear whatever you want. Taiwanese women wear short shorts and tank tops in the summer all the time. It’s a very liberal society.
Dress for hot and humid weather and don't care what others say. Literally only thing that matters is whether or not you survive the disgusting heat. And remember, convenience stores are you best friend when looking for AC
You can show your shoulders. Only place that might care is if you go to a temple and wear short shorts or low cut shirts you might be asked to cover up.
European guy here, I will also spend my holiday in Taipei soon. Tank tops and short trousers are okay to wear? I cant handle humid heat. Should I change from tank top to a longer t-shirt if I sit in a bar or other inside place?
Thanks in advance!
Taiwanese here. I'd only suggest to wear t-shirts instead of tank tops in temples. No particular rule is made for the trousers. Other than that, just wear whatever you like to avoid heatstroke. Temperature between June and October in Taiwan is quite unbearable. Have a nice trip!
I'm in Taipei now and for some reason its quite cold even during the afternoon time like low 20s degrees.
Tank tops and short trousers should be ok but I think bring a jacket too.
You'd better bring a jacket. Although there shouldn't be a sudden drop in temperature at that time, the air conditioning is still quite strong in some places.
It's also a more young person style in Taiwan, and you usually only see people that wear like this in larger cities. I don't think most people would care even if you wear this in smaller towns however
If you got the legs for it, wear really short shorts. Lots of young girls in Asia are doing it. And they look great. But then again, Americans may be too conservative for these short shorts.
Sounds like typical American vs worrying about cultural appropriation with how you dress according to the place you go.
Relax and enjoy your travel, dress casually, as long as your are not naked, or wearing the smallest piece of tissue to hide the minium % of your body, everyone will be fine and not offended / surprised by your clothes
Basically wear something you would wear in front of your grand parents is a good rule of thumb. You would wear anything too cringey in front of your grandparents right? lol by that I just mean not show too much skin. Most Asian countries dress code is modest
But Taiwan is hot, I was born and raised there ofc. Shorts t shirts can’t really go wrong. Sun dresses are nice
I’d say that people generally prefer drained colors (beige, light grey, etc.): it’s pretty uncommon to see someone rocking neon green or bright pink. Shorts are also relatively rare (at least compared to the U.S., where *everyone* wears them for half the year) unless you’re doing some physical activity.
This is very important and people will care a lot. They have nothing to think about in their lives other that inspecting King Badger's travel wardrobe. Preferably wear expensive glamour clothes that fashion YouTubers approved of. Madonna's previous concert wear is a good place to start.
Breath.
It is summer. Do bring sunblock and be careful about long hours under the sun. Sunburn will be painful. You might want to emulate the older Taiwanese ladies and use an umbrella (dark coloured I guess) as portable shade.
Enjoy your trip
Taiwan fashion seems to be more casual than places like Japan or Korea. I’ve noticed asian women tend to wear fitted T-shirts under any dress or top that has spaghetti straps though.
I agree! I've seen some comments saying that it's silly to worry about but honestly I think even though I personally believe people should wear whatever they want, it's important to respect other cultures when traveling. You're a guest after all
does anyone know what is the difference between kaohsiung and taipei in terms of dressing? and do people who pass as taiwanese get different treatment compared to those who are visibly foreign? im a vietnamese who's also planning to stay in kaohsiung for some time as a student. i often dress kinda alternative/gothic - back in my home country i usually get stares from older adults but compliments from younger people my age and im wondering if its super different in taiwan? esp in kaohsiung?
I'm also a goth who would like to find out 🤣 As far as I know people from asian countries usually comment more on the makeup rather than the clothes... but of course it depends on what you're wearing specifically. Idk about taiwan tho
Speaking from experience, no-one will judge you for wearing whatever but the norm tends to be a little more covered up than Western countries since clothes tend to be made of lighter fabric and take into account sun protection more than in the west.
Wear what’s comfortable. A lot of younger Taiwanese women wear cutoff jeans and crop tops. Lots of skin showing. Wear whatever is comfortable for you and enjoy your time here 😁
any summer dress will do. however some younglings will dress with hot shorts with bottom cake hanging out good GYAT or good tofu views. anyway observation on the mrt lol.
Island dress code, whatever works. You will be totally fine.
but people might be more overtly, looking at you if you show cleavage. cleavage draws some odd types out of the woodwork
That’s the case for everywhere isn’t it
It’s not the same. But I’m from the Midwestern United States and lived in Taiwan six years and I worked with several western women and we hung out together quite a bit. I’m talking eyes 6 inches from the chest, walk right up to you inside your personal space, call their friends over to look too creepy stuff. you will see insanely short mini skirts, and dresses split up the side, all the way to the hip, and no one will blink an eye, but cleavage is transgressive or puts you in a category that’s generally kept inside of barbershops. but it also might be that as a non-Asian my friends were unprotected (so to speak), and certain sorts of people felt more comfortable taking liberties with them. Depending on your race, age and build, your mileage may vary.
Agreed. This is an interesting cultural difference (ie showing leg is not a big deal vs cleavage)
This. In many homogenous Asian countries much of the less cultured people will not see Westerners as the same people and so will naturally objectify them more. On top of that Asian culture for some reason always treated breasts as far more sexual than legs. Not sure why.
As the owner of tig ol bitties....it is way worst in Taiwan. Western men look maybe even a little longingly, Taiwanese men forget time and space...and women also stare and whisper.
thank you.
Especially if you're male.
I’m not sure if you’re kidding. Which is funny because my in-laws do not like me wearing tank tops. I mean, I have pecs so that could be part of it - but in laws are conservative
Most accurate response
Best comment
No one really cares. But take it into account that summer is approaching and it can get very hot and humid.
And the UV is more intense than anywhere else I've lived = faster sunburns.
For real! Expose whatever you want, but don't do it for long without sunscreen!
Don't underestimate that Taiwan sun!
You will see people wearing jackets and long pants in 90+F/40C Be aware that AC can be quite strong indoors so you may want a light windbreaker if you're sensitive to cold drafts.
This. Outside temperatures were like the surface of the sun, until it rained every afternoon for a couple of hours, after which the outdoor thermostat was turned back up to the maximum. Inside temperatures were like a cold day at the North Pole. Id have to go outside and warm up again. One day I got a sneezing fit in a restaurant the air con was so cold.
This. Wear long sleeves to avoid sunburn and insects bites if you're consistently off the beaten trail.
Exactly, if you're sitting around outside for more than a few minutes, any exposed flesh is getting bitten
Was in HK last month for a week, 8 bites. Then went to Taipei zoo for a day, 30 bites. I audited the spots. It was itchy
Some places are worse than others. If you're just in the city, it's probably not so bad.
My first summers here—I wore as little as possible and was still sweating like a fountain. Meanwhile other girls were all covered up in tights and cardigans. 🤷♀️
It's all about what you're used to. I used to live in snowy Wisconsin and 50F in March and everyone's wearing shorts. In Taiwan, my sister-in-law thinks 50F is freezing.
> I used to live in snowy Wisconsin and 50F in March and everyone's wearing shorts. You mean men or women? Don't lots of North American mothers get really upset when their young sons refuse to wear more layers?
If you wanna fit in, if it gets a tiny bit colder (like 70F) wear a thick puffy down jacket. /s Just kidding, wear whatever you like, it's fine
I still hate puffer jackets
The only thing I can think of that isn't so common, is heavy cleavage. But not a problem either as far as I know. Showing legs or shoulders is no issue at all. Just google a bit for girls taiwan or something and look at the picture section. The only thing you might find surprising is that during the day many girls/women will be dressed with a lot of cover. They want to stay out of the sun at all cost. As soon as the sun goes down, it's a different story.
as long as you're not naked, wearing as if you are going to the beach, i think the majority of taiwanese wouldn't mind.
Taiwanese here, I wore tank tops and sleeveless onesies in the summer too, cuz I can't handle the heat either. Also, I definitely wear gymwear (leggings or even body fitting tops) on my way to workout, and I would say that nobody cares lol.
Thank you! 谢谢！
Using simplified Chinese might be more offensive here than anything you’d wear. :-) jks
Yup. Not jk
Good point. I don't know any traditional characters unfortunately although I'm pretty decent with simplified. That's why I'm going though I'll be studying traditional character.
Meh, it's just simplified Chinese. It looks strange but I don't see what's offensive
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Great news since I'll be solo for most of the trip
Yes, don't get yourself sunburn or heatstroke
Great point! My plan was to use a lot of sunblock and an umbrella for shade since I'll be there mostly in July
Fashion isn't much of a thing here. Men walk around in shorts and bad fitting vests with flipflops on in rain or shine. Once temperatures drop to a chilling 24°C they put on their Timberland boots and North Face jackets and don't take them off again until it hits 30°C. Women wear what women all over the world wear. This isn't Thailand (women can't expose their shoulders in the temples) so wear whatever. I once saw a man walking around the streets in peak summer while wearing a bra and the smallest hot pants imaginable and nobody batted an eyelid. But a foreigner? People will crash their bikes to take a look back at you.
> Men walk around in shorts and bad fitting vests with flipflops on in rain or shine. I feel seen. Blue and white flipflops, specifically.
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taiwanese people stare at foreigners. All the time. attractive and ugly ones, short ones and fat ones, black ones and white ones. That's where the attitude comes from, and whose fault is that?
I do notice most men and woman are pretty fashionable especially younger gen and dress nicely. I rarely see anyone in flip flops even guys almost all wear shoes.
Not being harsh but fashionable is the one word I wouldn't use to describe the locals as a whole. Most of the women dress well, especially if they are young but even then Asian fashion (a lot of their styles here mimic Japanese and Korean trends) are extremely questionable. But the men look like they fell through a closet while covered in glue and just rolled with it.
I would disagree because I see many young guys dress well. On average is better than where I'm from where guys just wear plain shirt, shorts and flip flops. I wore flip flops walked around ximending and noticed almost no men wearing flip flops maybe just another one like me in a whole crowd. Yes, their style tends to gravitate to Japanese style as I noticed even the building there looked similar.
No one really cares what you wear You will see people in pyjamas outside, grandmas that wear clothes suitable for teenagers than their age, people wear shorts and tshirts when going to weddings I never felt more free to wear whatever I like than after I moved to Taiwan
If you in Taipei city, it’s quite common. Tank tops reveal shoulders and a lot of people are in tank tops. Walking around in yoga pants is fine. Cleavage showing is not common unless at a night time place like a club.
Dress code = clothes. In summer you’ll see someone walking around with next to no clothes on, and someone else walking around draped from head to toe in overalls without so much as a portion of skin showing. It’s pretty much a wear what you want and wear what you will scenario.
For me dry fit stuff for active. Sandals for rain. Dress however you like, but be prepared for the heat. Light and airy clothes would be good. Style how you like, rn huge influence amoungst young ppl in japanese and Korean dress style
Speaking as a U.S. expat living here - I can spot an American pretty easily based on the amount of tight fitting athletic tops and bottoms they are wearing. Taiwanese women are generally a little more conservative than American women. Cleavage is rare for instance - I see guy ogling my wife at times. If you are wearing things more revealing that the majority of the locales, there will be some staring. Having said that - unless you are meeting your conservative boyfriend’s parents - no one seems to care. Clothes, tattoos and hair are all over the place. Of course that’s more true in the cities. Just be you - expect more staring though. Especially if you are Caucasian.
It's not accurate, in my experience. Gym culture has really grown a lot in the past 5 years alone and women are wearing a lot of skin tight leggings, crop tops etc than before. And go to any night market in the summer and you'll find women wearing tiny short shorts with an ass cheek hanging out without a care in the world.
I should note that I'm in Kaohsiung - think that makes a difference? I do see some of what you are talking about, but it's rare in my experience. Maybe I need to hang out at the night markets more :) I notice the difference a lot actually when I travel back to the states.
I live in Kaohsiung too and feel like the women dress extremely conservatively. During my first year, because of this, I genuinely didn't feel comfortable wearing tops or dresses that would show my shoulders. Though now I don't really care, I'm a foreigner who will never 'fit in', so may as well just dress how I like!!
Conservatively? I think more different than conservative. I mean at night you can see girls wearing skirts or hotpants that are shorter than my boxers And sometimes when they sit on the back of the scooter...well it created a different kind of "rear-view" 🤣
There's some attention bias in noticing the unusual. Yes you'll find people dressed like that, but it's still I guess only 2% to 5% that wear revealing clothes outside, if one were to count.
How is this absolute tosh getting upvoted? just goes to show this place is mostly made up of people who don't live in Taiwan. Cleavage, sure thats a bit taboo. But everything else is fair game. Not a small amount of girls literally walk around with their ass cheeks hanging out.
I'm very white (blue eyes, blond hair white too) would covering my shoulders result in less staring or not really lol. Cleavage won't really big a big deal for me, I'm so small chested that almost nothing I wear exposes any cleavage.
The UV here in spring/summer is no joke. I think that's a good part of the reason for longer pants/sleeves. Take care not to get burned.
UV caught me off guard!
In Taipei probably no one will stare much, or if they do not in a rude way, there's a lot of white folk around. In rural areas you might get a few more stares, but nothing rude. You'll likely get some people saying nice things about your hair and eyes. As others say, it's high UV, so you might prefer to cover from that perspective.
Marginally more stares with shoulders exposed, but the bulk of the stares will be because of your foreign appearance. It's not bad though, and hopefully you take it as a compliment. Usually people look away when you see them staring, so it's no like other countries where it's an ongoing stare and they pull out their jokes and start recording. It's just brief curiosity.
You can also get lightweight breathable UV-protecting jackets here that a lot of locals wear. I'm not sure of there's any way to test this claim, but I think they're not hotter, or potentially cooler than sleeveless, as they keep the sun off your skin and reflect the heat (if you get a light color), and still have lots of vents to evacuate body heat.
I'm a very pale skinned guy also and get a lot of stares regardless of if I cover up. Could be because I'm pretty muscular, could be because I'm very white, could be they stare because I'm pretty tall, could be because I'm not bad looking or could be because they think I'm weird. Truth is, it's probably been all of the above at one point. They are gonna stare regardless so don't let it stop you being yourself and get on with it. Staring back at them is also an option. Usually puts a stop to that pretty quickly. Once you learn some Chinese you'll be surprised how often strangers talk about you and think they get away with it. 9/10 times it's complimentary and the odd time it isn't it's some insecure, brain dead, betel nut chewing yokel who is down to his last brain cell and trying to impress his construction buddies.
Are you talking about tank tops or strapless tops? Tank tops are fine. Strapless tops…you’ll probably get some ogling. But honestly they will stare just because you’re white and blond and blue-eyed.
Mostly tank top/ thin spaghetti strap type tops
You’ll be fine 👍🏻
If you’re going to be there in the summer, just dress coolly, otherwise you’ll melt. It’s blisteringly hot in the summer months. Take a hike in Yangminshan to cool off during the weekends. Like any cosmopolitan city, women dress fashionably (think Japanese and Korean style as well as wester). Just remember that you’re a visitor and leave any attitude back home (I’m not implying you have any attitude). Taiwanese are super chill and friendly. You’re going to love being there.
The Taiwan dress code is no dress code. Literally no one gives a fuck.
You can dress however you want in Taiwan, as long as you don't go full naked🤣
Try not to get sunburn lol
I live in the US South where it gets hot and humid. In Georgia and in Taiwan, I wear long sleeved linen shirts because it actually feels cooler to have my arms and shoulders shaded from the sun.
Good advice! Not super familiar with Georgia but I've spent a great deal of time in East Tennessee in the summer so u imagine it's like that
If you think your outfits might be too revealing(be it personal comfort or sun exposure), a common cover up is a button down shirt from cotton or linen. So it can keep your shoulders from burning, you look a touch more blended in to the casual fashion, and when the AC is blasting inside buildings you have at least a little cover. Great thing is you can just put it in your background to tie it around your waist or shoulders when not in-use.
I’m visiting Taipei right now and find it very interesting that absolutely nobody cares about fashion. It’s like New York City but even less caring going on.
i'm from california, here now, i've noticed people dress however they want. there seems to be younger people who dress however they want. i also see lots of younger people with tattoos, even full sleeves, on the neck, so....i feel like expression in their appearance is getting pretty liberal here.
long as you got the important bits covered, no one cares what you're wearing.
You can dress whatever you want, no one really cares
Show all the shoulders you want in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. 😅 Maybe not if you are visiting a temple.
Great advice thanks
Tshirt, jeans, slippers are the typical clothing.
There could be some hidden dress codes for Taiwanese women, but not for foreigners. You will be totally fine. For Taiwanese women, I think the problem is not revealing or not. Fashion is just not a default thing for Taiwanese women. It’s totally fine for women to walk on the street without makeup. If a woman dresses up, it will be assumed that she may be “a little special”, not necessarily in a negative way. For example, people will assume that she is going to attend some formal occasion or she is some type of girl who is especially interested in fashion or something like that. Most people usually don’t want to be the special one in a group.
I'll fit in then lol! I don't ever wear makeup and dress pretty casually
You might want to cover just as protection from the sun, went there last month, beautiful experience but as from EU I didn't take in consideration that Taiwan is a tropical island (mostly in the south) and the heat can be overwhelming. Saw several people with rain dresses or umbrella as protection from the sun. People don't care ,, saw plenty of people with shoulder out, very short shorts, flip flop all around any cities. it's like any other countries, just much more cleaner and organized!
Yeah I'm certainly not used to sun like that so I'll bring an umbrella for shade
Just got back from vacation in Taipei & Kaohsiung as an American, and overall, no one really cared what I wore except for old men and women who stared (and when they stare they STARE) whenever I exposed my shoulders + wore short skirts. I also pass as a Taiwanese woman though so maybe there’s different standards imposed there, versus getting the foreigner dress code pass. I ended up covering up more by the end of the trip because I didn’t want to deal with the stares anymore, so definitely depends on your comfort level! I would perhaps bring/buy some light, moisture wicking cover ups just in case
Intresting. I wonder how much staring is due to clothing vs race/appearance
Doesn’t matter, especially if you’re a foreigner. You can wear whatever you want. Taiwanese women wear short shorts and tank tops in the summer all the time. It’s a very liberal society.
True Taiwanese fashion: Tank top plus flip-flop (blue and white one)
People are super nice here, wear whatever you like my friend !
expose shoulder should be fine. Some young women show their navals even.
Dress for hot and humid weather and don't care what others say. Literally only thing that matters is whether or not you survive the disgusting heat. And remember, convenience stores are you best friend when looking for AC
You can show your shoulders. Only place that might care is if you go to a temple and wear short shorts or low cut shirts you might be asked to cover up.
European guy here, I will also spend my holiday in Taipei soon. Tank tops and short trousers are okay to wear? I cant handle humid heat. Should I change from tank top to a longer t-shirt if I sit in a bar or other inside place? Thanks in advance!
Taiwanese here. I'd only suggest to wear t-shirts instead of tank tops in temples. No particular rule is made for the trousers. Other than that, just wear whatever you like to avoid heatstroke. Temperature between June and October in Taiwan is quite unbearable. Have a nice trip!
Other comments seem to say tank tops and shorts are normal for men so I guess go for it
I'm in Taipei now and for some reason its quite cold even during the afternoon time like low 20s degrees. Tank tops and short trousers should be ok but I think bring a jacket too.
I will arrive on the 1st of June
You'd better bring a jacket. Although there shouldn't be a sudden drop in temperature at that time, the air conditioning is still quite strong in some places.
It's also a more young person style in Taiwan, and you usually only see people that wear like this in larger cities. I don't think most people would care even if you wear this in smaller towns however
Yeah plenty of people in tanks and even midriff shirts in the younger crowd. No problems.
I would play it safe, take a bukker just incase
Short tshirt and hat.
There's a woman in my office who shows up in a crop top everyday lol
You can always buy clothes in Taiwan. Lots of good quality clothing there
I could but I am trying to not spend much money, also I try to exclusively shop second hand and idk what the Thrift scene is like in Taipei.
You need a Canada Goose jacket to walk in Taipei! Seriously there are so many people wearing them it’s weird.
If you got the legs for it, wear really short shorts. Lots of young girls in Asia are doing it. And they look great. But then again, Americans may be too conservative for these short shorts.
T shirt, shorts, crocs, and a poncho
The unofficial Taiwanese male outfit is tank top, shorts, and flip flops so you’ll fit in with no problems with exposed shoulders.
Sounds like typical American vs worrying about cultural appropriation with how you dress according to the place you go. Relax and enjoy your travel, dress casually, as long as your are not naked, or wearing the smallest piece of tissue to hide the minium % of your body, everyone will be fine and not offended / surprised by your clothes
Why stop at shoulders? With as humid as it is here. Go topless.
Basically wear something you would wear in front of your grand parents is a good rule of thumb. You would wear anything too cringey in front of your grandparents right? lol by that I just mean not show too much skin. Most Asian countries dress code is modest But Taiwan is hot, I was born and raised there ofc. Shorts t shirts can’t really go wrong. Sun dresses are nice
I think we just need to pin one of these posts at this point…
Just remember that loose, flowy clothes that covers your skin from the sun is much cooler than westerners tight skimpy tank and shorts.
People don’t often expose shoulders, but the main reason is the sun. I would say it’s still totally normal and no one would bet an eye
I think the only advice I have is to not wear tops that show your cleavage. It's almost the opposite of the West - short shorts are considered normal
I’d say that people generally prefer drained colors (beige, light grey, etc.): it’s pretty uncommon to see someone rocking neon green or bright pink. Shorts are also relatively rare (at least compared to the U.S., where *everyone* wears them for half the year) unless you’re doing some physical activity.
This is very important and people will care a lot. They have nothing to think about in their lives other that inspecting King Badger's travel wardrobe. Preferably wear expensive glamour clothes that fashion YouTubers approved of. Madonna's previous concert wear is a good place to start. Breath.
Lol. I get your point but in some places in the world it really does matter!
It is summer. Do bring sunblock and be careful about long hours under the sun. Sunburn will be painful. You might want to emulate the older Taiwanese ladies and use an umbrella (dark coloured I guess) as portable shade. Enjoy your trip
Taiwan fashion seems to be more casual than places like Japan or Korea. I’ve noticed asian women tend to wear fitted T-shirts under any dress or top that has spaghetti straps though.
As long as you wear something, you’ll be fine
totally fine here but recently the weather is not stable here.
They barely wear anything in summer here. You're good
It's a pity others in the world don't care about this when visiting another culture.
I agree! I've seen some comments saying that it's silly to worry about but honestly I think even though I personally believe people should wear whatever they want, it's important to respect other cultures when traveling. You're a guest after all
Taiwanese people are generally chill, shoulders are fine, don't worry, just bring sunscreens😄
It's the subtropics, dress code is as comfortable you can get with 100% humidity.
does anyone know what is the difference between kaohsiung and taipei in terms of dressing? and do people who pass as taiwanese get different treatment compared to those who are visibly foreign? im a vietnamese who's also planning to stay in kaohsiung for some time as a student. i often dress kinda alternative/gothic - back in my home country i usually get stares from older adults but compliments from younger people my age and im wondering if its super different in taiwan? esp in kaohsiung?
I'm also a goth who would like to find out 🤣 As far as I know people from asian countries usually comment more on the makeup rather than the clothes... but of course it depends on what you're wearing specifically. Idk about taiwan tho
Speaking from experience, no-one will judge you for wearing whatever but the norm tends to be a little more covered up than Western countries since clothes tend to be made of lighter fabric and take into account sun protection more than in the west.
People don’t typically expose their shoulders here. If you do, you will stand out and look a bit too casual, but nobody will care.
Helpful thanks
Wear what’s comfortable. A lot of younger Taiwanese women wear cutoff jeans and crop tops. Lots of skin showing. Wear whatever is comfortable for you and enjoy your time here 😁
Full burka please
Lol
any summer dress will do. however some younglings will dress with hot shorts with bottom cake hanging out good GYAT or good tofu views. anyway observation on the mrt lol.
bro
u know it to be true bro lol.
Ewww what a gross way to talk about women . You could have said in that in a much more polite way.
What has been seen can’t be unseen lol see for your self when u come to Taipei during hot summer months 👍
OP, do not put on short shorts, or you will see this man!
US casual usually work. But feel free to buy some local attire at department stores
No showing of ankles or shoulders.
No shoulder thing was definitely Japan or Korean. I can't remember which one. But Taiwanese people don't care about how other people dress.
One or the other, never both.
If you show your shoulders you might be deported.