Wedding in Jakarta - YouLookFab Forum

Dear Fabbers, our lovely friends Owen and Farrah are celebrating their wedding in Jakarta in October. We are so looking forward to it! We've been invited to wear national dress to the wedding, DH and DS have declined, but I am going to. It can be arranged with ease. It comprises a top, and skirt. I don't think I will be wearing it for more than a five hours and may be just two. Culturally, I understand that it is entirely acceptable, as I wouldn't wish to cause offence.

As our friends are arranging the hire, they have sent me photos of the tops, as that is the one that you select ahead of arriving for the wedding. There were various choices. The one I have chosen is the first photo.

It was difficult to choose, but I chose this because it has navy / purple detailing; I have navy suede shoes and I have a pretty, small, gold evening bag.

I am also going to take a spare dress, just in case I have cold feet or something unforeseen happens.

Thank you for looking. Any tips that you may have and particularly if you have done something similar, I would welcome any comments that you may have.

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8 years ago

Anonymous

What an incredible opportunity! I've never been to an event at which this type of very elaborate beading and embroidery would be the natural choice and I am jealous!

I love your spirit and your choice!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

How beautiful! What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with your friends, and such an adventure, too.

What a wonderful opportunity. I love the top you chose. It looks very sheer so take a navy or black cami and a pretty bra. I wonder if the skirt is lined. You may want to buy the outfit or something similar as a future event outfit that transcends trends. Lovely for the holidays too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOOOHOOOOOO

HOW FABULOUS, Jane. My late Mum was from Jakarta - half Indonesian and half Dutch. My Mum's side of the family's home town. (Pack me in your suitcase).

Soooo did you choose #1? Do you have the long skirt already? Lets see the bag and shoes. You need LOTS of gold jewellery. Take pics!

The food is going to be a MIND BLOW. Our favourite, along with Japanese food.

Jenni NZ

So Jane, daughter Rebecca, 26, went with her boyfriend ( long story, but he's Vietnamese born in Ho Chi Minh city, now lives in the East Bay Area of Northern California and they met in SF in 2013 when she went to work from NZ to California) to his brother's wedding in Ho Chi Minh city this January. She was dressed by his family in beautiful Ao Dai ( Vietnamese long dresses) clothing on at least 2 occasions and on another occasion wore a Western dress. She looked stunning in the Vietnamese clothing and says she was paraded about the family like a show pony ! I know Indonesia and Vietnam are not the same countries but I would imagine some similar customs? ( I've only been to Singapore and Thailand myself). She found the hospitality amazing. I think it will be awesome you getting to dress like that and I love your top!

rachylou

What a blast! The first was the one you chose?

Jane

Thank you for your lovely comments.

Isabel, I love the embroidery and the depth of colour it lends to the piece. I can't think in the UK I would wear something so elaborate and it will be a lovely opportunity.

Thank you Firecracker. We are all looking forward to it. DS is slightly concerned about Jakata, but he is looking forward to seeing our friends, so thankfully, he is coming too.

Joy, the top is just one piece (called a kebaya) of it I think. It comes with a bustier and then I think the skirt is there too. I need to choose the kebaya now, and then our friends can order. It does look sheer. I will take a strapless bra and I have a very fine strapped black silk cami, that I will take just in case. The skirt come in a solid fabric, but again look very detailed and beautiful fabrics. It will certainly be maximal I think!

Thank you Angie. Your comment about the food has really helped as DS loved Japan, especially the food, and I think it will help him to feel more at ease too. What a lovely heritage you have.

Here is a photo of the bag options. They are my great aunts, she used them about 100 years ago on her cruises, so it will be lovely to have one of them with me. They come with the original bits that were in the bag, so a little purse for coins and a little pencil for marking a dance card! I was thinking either of the two photographed on their own. May be I will need a bigger bag to put the little bag in, and a change of dress...

Thank you Jenni, that is really helpful to know. I am expecting Owen's two sisters and mum will be wearing Indonesian dress too, so there will be others involved if that happens.

I chose the first top Rachy. Owen and I worked together for about three years and he and I got to know each other really well. I found it slightly strange that I need to send him my measurements, but he is so matter of fact about everything that my discomfort has almost passed! I thought them all lovely, but the first one I think will look lovely with my engagement ring my DH and navy is one of my preferred colours. So, I kind of quickly chose to make it easy for Owen (the wedding is taking a lot of organising).

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I'd go for the gold bag

That's old world style... men doing the shopping and knowing all about women's fashions It was my dad and uncles who took me shopping after a certain age, past babyhood.

I am so excited for you. I hope you post lots for the rest of us to enjoy.

unfrumped

How great! Hope you get photos of your final outfit.

Christina F.

My friend was in Peace Corps in east Java for two years, and they loved it when she got dolled up for events. She has quite a collection of batik now. We visited her and her community was filled with friendly people. I think they will love it if you do wear what you picked out.

AND VINTAGE BAGS. How gorgeous, Jane. I love the gold, and happy to have assured DS.

What about the skirt and shoes?

Stagiaire Fash

How very cool!

I wonder if you could wear the top with just a simple, sleek bottom to a fancy New Years party or something without looking appropriative. Either way, have a great time at the wedding!

Barbara Diane

Wow! Fabulous. And I love the pencil for marking your dance card.
I was thinking the same things as fashiontern.

I don't think it would be appropriative at all to wear the top back in the UK. It will be yours with a lovely story to go with. Rebecca ( my DD) was gifted her Vietnamese dresses by the family and I think she will likely wear them again in NZ this coming summer if a long dress would work. I admit she has not as yet, but when she got them we only had a month of summer left.

PS it is Jakarta with an r.

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