The Barong Tagalog: A Modern Man’s Guide

 The barong tagalong is a great article of clothing, though to fully maximize what it can do for you, it helps getting to know a little more about it -and as they say, knowing is half the battle. From wearing the barong to keeping it clean, every barong-wearing man should be aware of the hows and whys of this exquisitely versatile wear.

Dressing for the Occasion

Call it formal wear, or traditional attire, or work clothes, the Barong Tagalong can be a great wardrobe choice for a lot of functions -provided you know what you are working with. Take note of the barong’s color, fabric, and cut to know which one to bring to which event. A short sleeved barong, for example, is better for outdoor activities in the sun. On the other hand, a nighttime gala might be a great time to bring out an all black barong. Always remember to choose the right piece for the right time. If you are having trouble deciding, check out our handy guide for choosing the right barong for the occasion.

Prepare for Questions

For Filipinos, the barong tagalong is a piece of tradition and history. For everyone else, it is an eye-catching look that also begs some curious questions. Depending on the crowd you will be with, it is possible that there are people who might ask about the barong, and it helps to be prepared to answer such inquiries. We will not be going into the history of the barong right here -that in itself is worthy of a whole new discussion. But do try to read up a little beforehand on the history, take note of what fabric your barong is (the translucent nature of a barong incites people to ask what it is made of), and when you’re in doubt, nothing is more gentlemanly than a man who is willing to admit what he does not know.

The Camisa is Important Too

The camisa de chino is the humble undershirt that is used for all barongs. While it is possible to use a regular undershirt, the camisa’s lightweight fabric and cut are the factors that makes it fitting to be worn with barongs. All that said, be sure to bring an extra camisa when you can. When travelling, try to have at least two camisas (of the appropriate color) for each barong you will be using. This is extra important when you’re going to be out in the sun, as the camisa will be absorbing most of the sweat, having a spare ready will help you keep clean and fresh.

Of course, never forget the most important rule of the camisa: it must be fitted. Just as fitted undershirts are a golden rule for suits, even more so for the translucent Barong Tagalog as the undershirt will be quite ‘visible’, so it always has to look and fit perfectly.

Don’t Skimp Out on Fitting

The fit of the barong matter a lot, so it goes without saying that fitting it properly is mandatory. Even when buying a barong off the shelf (which is a great choice when you need to one quickly), consider having some alterations since these do not take a lot of time and makes the barong look even better on you. Naturally, a custom made barong will be a great fit once it is done.

Make a note of when you acquire a barong. Because after a year or so, it is important to make sure that the fit is still good. For guys who are currently taking on a fitness or diet program, consider getting a fitting as you reach your fitness goals (which could mean a significant change in body shape in a matter of weeks of months). Developing muscle areas and trimming down will have a big impact on how the barong fits so when you undertake these life improvements, have the barong evolve along with you.

More Than Just the Barong

Picking out a good pair of pants and shoes to go with a barong is important. For pants, the safest choice is to pick black slacks that fit comfortably. Go for a cut that compliments the shape and length of your legs. As for choosing belts, use ones with buckles that have subtle designs for barongs that have complex embroidery. On the other hand, if your barong of choice has very minimal flair, you can opt for a belt buckle that has a little bit of emphasis.

The color of the shoes should go with the color of the pants. Leather (or pleather) are reasonable options, though suede and other materials will work just as well. As for the style, it really depends on the occasion. If the event is informal enough, you may want to consider black topsiders or loafers for a more relaxed look. In most cases, avoid using sports shoes (rubber shoes, running shoes, etc) because they will almost always clash with a barong.

Lastly, yes, you can wear cufflinks on a barong. However, before you decide on what pair to wear, take a moment to check the fabric of your barong. If it uses pina silk (or pina seda), just know that your barong has a very delicate fabric. The chances of cufflinks doing damage is minimal, but you may want to choose lightweight links in order to minimize stressing the fabric.

Going On the Road

There will be plenty of events that will require some travelling, and sometimes, these events will last for several days (such as conventions and conferences). For occasions such as these, packing a few extra items will certainly help. Clothes hangers and plastic suit covers are good to have for both the trip and for storing the barong at your lodging. If you really need to have them packed in your travel bags, and there are plenty of times when one has to, just make sure to fold them neatly. It will have some fold lines and a few creases, but those can be remedied. Some hotels (especially business hotels) will have an iron that you can use, so look up our guide on maintaining your barong for instructions on how to smoothen out any wrinkles that it may have gotten during the trip.

Unique and One of a Kind Barong Designs that You Will Surely Love

You might think that since barong is a traditional and formal men’s wear, you will see the same traditional and typical designs over and over again. But think again. You will also be surprised that babies, children, and even women can wear barongs specially designed for them.

It is made of thin cloth materials like Jusi,Jusilyn, Organza, and Piña that is perfect for hot and humid weather conditions. But it is also ideal for creating more unique designs that you will surely love. You will be surprised that it does not only match the hot weather but also matches your taste and style. So without further ado, here are uniquely designed Barong Tagalogs that you will surely love to wear.

Glow More With Blue Barong Tagalog Designs

Blue barong Tagalogs are popular because of their unique glossy look. Its glowing effect makes you stand out among the rest. There are lots of embroidered designs and shades of blue to choose from. Made from 100% high-quality Jusi fabric, these barongs have one of a kind look.

A Touch of Gold

Ahoy matey! I see ye find me treasure! Well, it’s no pirate treasure. Aside from its painstakingly detailed embroidery, it becomes more dazzling in its golden colour. Now you will not only look fantastic but stand out in meetings and special occasions.If you want to be bold, be gold.

U Shape Embroidered Barong Tagalog

Wait a minute. Is that a cowboy or a Spanish caballero? However you may put it, we can obviously tell what’s unique in this barong. Evident in its U shaped embroidered design, it surely gives a unique and bold fashion statement. The fabric is made of 100% high-quality organza. They come in black and white in color.

Filipino-Chinese FusionBarong Tagalogs

Are you ready for some kung-fu action? Designed with a Chinese frog fastener like embroidery design at front, aligned with its buttons, it was indeed a perfect Filipino-Chinese fusion. Who would have thought that barongs can be that flexible when it comes to designs?Not to mention its elegant Chinese collar neckline, it was a stylish and authentic design that you would surely love to wear.

Indigenously Modern Brown Barong Tagalog

Not the typical Barong Tagalog design you can see all the time. It was hand-painted with a unique symmetrical design. Combined with abaca like borders lining beside its halfway front buttons up to the shoulders, it projects an indigenous yet modern appearance. It’s a perfect impression of corporate meetings and significant events.

The Fiery Burgundy Barong Tagalog

You are not burning in flames; you’re just hot looking when you wear this one. Its unique white prints across its embroidery give a perfect accent to the barong. You will definitely look dashing.

Baby Boy’s White Christening Barong

Who says children can’t go formal on very special occasions? You wouldn’t want to see them wearing baby rompers or pajamas while on Christening. It’s nice to know that designers have this unique white barong specially made for boys. Now you can bring your little ones to special occasions. Just don’t forget the diapers.

Even girls have their own barong gown for Christening, and it’s a one of a kind design, making it look so girly in a barong material. But still do please bring their diapers.

Uniquely Designed Barongs for Women

Who says only men can wear barong?  Women can now go equally formal with men when it comes to barong. It’s definitely barong, created from the finest Piña-Organza Fabric, but you can clearly see its female aesthetics. The delicate embroidery, ivory buttons, and the remarkable neckline that perfectly matches expensive jewelry is truly the touch of royalty.

The Perfect Formal Wear for Summer: The Barong

A warm summer day and a pinstriped suit (or any suit) is a difficult combo to pull off, especially when staying out of the heat of the sun is not an option. And when you’re going to be visiting a client or business partner, the last thing you would want is to be dripping buckets all over. A quick fix is to normally just take off the coat and keep the tie on, the switch provides a bit of cool comfort, but that comes at the price of sacrificing style. Now, what if there was a piece of formalwear that looks classy and dignified, but lets you keep cool and comfy in the sun? Enter, the barong.

No Sleeves, But Formal

Formal wear tends to have long sleeves -usually ones you can use cuffs on. But not all formal wear are made equal, like the short sleeved barong. Yes, the Barong Tagalog has a short sleeved variant. Two quick and obvious things about having short sleeves is that your skin gets to breathe more and your arms gain a bit of maneuverability. The other less noticed factor is something other people will see: you look fresh. Not just because a barong keeps you cool even during summertime, but also because the short-sleeved look feels just right for the environment. As most barong tend to be a little see-through, they are visually light on the eyes, adding a slightly delicate and soft touch which accents the barong’s manly and rigid cut. This contrast is airy (not just visually, but literally too), and is akin to the sight of a nice cool breeze passing through curtains.

SHORT SLEEVES BARONG TAGALOG #1053

SHORT SLEEVES BARONG TAGALOG #1050

Bring It to the Country Club

While a short sleeved barong has a great look and good arm movement, we certainly do not recommend wearing it when teeing off on the green -there are proper regulated shirts for that. On the other hand, if you’re just heading down to have some brunch with friends under the sun, this is a great way to bring some unique style and class to the table. And unlike the other gents who may have to take off their coats (especially when the tables have been set al fresco), anyone in a barong can simply take their seats without worrying about their outfits.

Time for Field Work

Whether you’re checking a local warehouse without specialized cooling or needing to be out on the hot streets, getting all steamed up in your office wear is not a pretty sight. Good thing is, the barong has you covered. Whether you go with short or long sleeves will be a personal choice (or depending on what your activities will be), but both will help keep you cool and comfy while ensuring that you stay professional looking all day long.

And yes, long sleeved barongs are also cool to wear -the lightness of barong fabric is unmatched in formal wear. They look incredibly elegant but at the same, they are also highly functional. And depending on the type of camisa de chino you wear underneath, you can control the amount of breathability on your arms.

Camisa Coolness

The barong is a two-piece suit. There’s the barong on top, and underneath is the humble camisa de chino. This little undershirt may not seem like much at first glance. But it is an amazing piece of wear. First off, it is usually made from smooth cool fabric. It will not get in your way and depending on the fit, you may not even notice that it is there. Second, it comes in short and long sleeved versions. The more common ones are short sleeves. though depending on the barong on top or the planned usage, you may want to opt for longer sleeves. Word of advice, when you’re going to wear long sleeves barongs in direct sunlight, do choose the long sleeved camisa as it will help protect the skin on your arms better.

WHITE CAMISA DE CHINO LS

WHITE CAMISA DE CHINO SS

IVORY CAMISA DE CHINO LS

The primary purpose of the camisa is to provide a layer of cloth between the skin and the barong. It also helps highlight the color of the barong you chose by providing with a neutral background color (most camisa are either white, off-white, or black).

Summer Nights Call for Something Black

The black colored barong is a great choice for late night cocktails. Not only does it have that formal suave that you would want while mixing in with the early cocktail crowd (which sometimes tends to be a bit of a very formal affair), it has just enough style to be good enough to bring to the after party without calling for a change of wardrobe. The darker color looks cool on the eyes, which is a great fit for evening parties and events. More often than not, the semi-translucent look gives the barong a sense of depth, which is a great way to stand out from among a sea of flat-matted blacks and grays.

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MONOCHROMATIC BLACK JUSILYN BARONG TAGALOG #3337

Mix It Up with Colors

If you are planning to attend something a little more on the festive side of summer -like the opening of a modern art gallery, or the launch of a trendy new product, or the premiere of the latest summer blockbuster, then you may want to consider choosing a barong that is a little more colorful than usual. Turquoise blues and soft scarlets are always a great choice, they stand out just enough to make a statement, but are just classy enough to stay on the more formal side of things. Or you can go really loud with something like a vibrant yellow, because nothing takes the spotlight better than a strong ensemble color. Of course, while the barong has plenty of style, it is up to the wearer to provide the attitude.

AQUA BLUE JUSILYN BARONG TAGALOG #3332

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GREEN BARONG TAGALOG #3311

The Modern Appeal of the Black Barong Tagalog

For most men, the go-to of formal wear usually meant taking the safe choice of the suit jacket and tie combo that everyone is very familiar with. The colors are just as predictable: gray, blue, or the ever-so-expected black. Black stands out since it goes well for all occasions: from business meetings, to weddings, opera nights, funerals, inaugurations, and more. But what if you wanted to try something different? Enter the Filipino favorite: striking, exotic, and cultured, this is the Barong Tagalog. And before you ask anything else, yes, it comes in black.

It Was Not Always a Choice

The black Barong Tagalog is not something that most Filipino’s grandfathers would be familiar with. Indeed, the color variation is something that came about with the passing of time and evolution of tradition. Along with the introduction of the polo Barong, innovations to colors, fabric choices, and cuts help keep this  traditional garment still relevant and useful in the current day.

For those wondering, while the Barong has a very long and rich history, it truly gained recognition among the Filipinos in the 1950’s thanks to its usage by then-President Ramon Magsaysay. While other previous presidents had also worn the Barong, most would prefer to use suits and they would be seen in such during most public events, but for President Magsaysay, he made the Barong famous. He does wear suits, but for most official functions, his go-to attire was the Barong.

But even during that time, the Barong was either white or beige. Over the years that passed, different colors were used to dye the traditional fabrics and allowed for amazing color variations. Most notable of all, of course, was the Barongs that came in black.

Tradition meets Style

There’s no doubting the regal elegance of a Barong Tagalog. The fabric’s semi-sheer attributes gives it that soft delicate touch, while the cut and overall silhouette provides the solidity and stature that any self-respecting man should have. It is a wonderful balance of contrasting elements that is unique to this traditional east-asian attire. The eye-catching Barong Tagalog is often seen in its more familiar colors of white and off-white (leaning towards a slight tinge of dark beige), sometimes, the colors are a little more loud and vibrant, taking on the palettes of reds, blues, greens and more. But today, our spotlight shines on a shade that only some Barong users have been acquainted with: black.

Every Shade of the Night Sky

Black is a timeless color to wear, it goes well with almost any occasion, any shape and skin tone of the user, and best of all, with a large variety of styles. It manages to be very modern and chic and yet classic, it is edgy but also respectable, when people say that black is a versatile color, they really mean it. The good news for Barong Tagalog lovers is that this is a color option available to them.

Now, given that the Barong’s real color is often a slightly transparent hue that goes over the wearer’s camisa, the black that you see will not just be a single shade. At first glance, a Barong on the shelf may seem like a normal black, but when faced towards the light, one can see that depending on the fabric and how it was painted, you can have anywhere from dark gray to absolute pitch black (some Barongs are made to not have any transparency at all as well, creating a flat color if that’s the look you are going for).

It goes without saying that if you are going for a black Barong, then the camisa (that’s the traditional undershirt for those of you unfamiliar with  the terminology), will also need to be black. White camisas are rarely a good combo for a black Barong (it does go nicely for ash gray variations, but we’ll be focusing on truly black Barongs for the purpose of this discussion).

Evenings and Black Formalwear

An evening formal is basically any event that requires attendees to suit up and is set at around six or seven in the evening. Depending on where you are in the world, this is right around sundown or more than an hour after. Expect the party to be lit up with artificial lights -which tend to be direct and will cast strong and defined shadows. The lighting makes the choice of darker colored wear a great match (as opposed to the way normal sunlight tends to slightly wash out colors and details).

Speaking of lighting, wearing black looks splendid when posing for photos. The Barong has a similar frame to the more common suit, but it brings its own features (like the embroidery) into play when seen up close. For those of you accompanying a date, the color and fabric combination complements dresses with a softer contrast, something that ladies would certainly appreciate. On a minor note, thanks to the various designs of embroideries on the Barong, you can actually be able to differentiate them. In contrast, suits tend to look uniform.

Truly Timeless

Thanks to the Barong’s history as traditional formalwear and cultural value, it manages to outmaneuver the suit and tux for the seat of all-around formalwear: it can go places these two cannot. Take an honest to goodness black-tie event, this usually translates into needing to rent a tux. On the other hand, a black Barong fits right in with no problem.

While the tux is considered the modern adaptation of the tailcoat (or at least, what you wear into events that used to require tailcoats), the Barong makes it a no-brainer. On the other hand, you cannot bring a tux into a formal-but-modern event, say a gallery night for a video game artist –the Barong is still a good pick. It stands out enough to trendy, but still cultured enough to be finery.