Baju Kurung Moden - A Modest Malay Dress In The South East Asia

Baju kurung moden is a more stylish take on the demure baju kurung -- a traditional Malay dress made popular by the late Johor Sultanate.

Now, the dress is given some laces, peplum style, beads or even some change in the cutting to make sure it looks contemporary and ready for the world.

In the old days, baju kurung is worn with a sarong. The cloth is manually pleated on either side and it is usually fastened with a belt.

However, as time goes by, and time becomes a constraint, the pleats were stitched, and the belt is given away to clips.

Why Is It Popular ?

• Size doesn't matter. Because any woman can look good in baju kurung.
• Modest look. The heavy Islam influence means that the top is long and loose.

These traditional baju kurung is not only popular as dresses used by villagers. But also with Malay princesses and executives in corporate office.

Below are 2 examples :-

• Princess to one of the richest man in the world -- Sultan of Brunei
• And Tan Sri Zeti, Malaysia's Central Bank Governor

In the 1980s, a new breed of the dress paves it way. These new dresses is called baju kurung moden.

The pesak, which traditionally stitched at the sides of baju kurung ( which is used to provide space so that the body shape is hidden) is now optional.

The long top is now made short. Sometimes, with peplum style or laces or fishtail. And the simple bottom is now fashioned with laces and new cutting styles such as mermaid.

As more Malay women embraces work place and formal functions in their daily lives, baju kurung moden is now accepted as a way of keeping up with the fashion world.

Look at a variety of kurung shown in this runway for Eid

Regardless of the style, baku kurung moden is always considered an elegant, modest dress.

And while modern Western clothing style is taking the Malay world by storm, a modest traditional clothing like baju kurung is definitely here to stay