Dress code in Goa?

Username · Oct 28th, 2005, 23:19

Me and my girlfriend will be in Goa in November. We will be in south goa for 3 days and 6 days in North Goa. We are both from the US and dress like it. Was wondering if there was a dress code me and girlfriend would have to stick to? When i went to Thailand, she wore a bikini and i went topless with swimming trunks to the beach or pool. And when we went out to party she would wear shorts and low cut shirt and i would wear shorts and a t-shirt, if not both in jeans. Is it appropriate for me to wear sleeveless shirts? Cause it get's hot. And after searching this site, i'm gettin mixed reviews as of what is acceptable for women. She likes wearing light clothing, short and low. I like wearing shorts and sleevless shirts if not topless. Please help, I only have 15 more days left.

kohinoor · Oct 28th, 2005, 23:43

Bikini on the beach is normal among western people, and ok.
The same goes with your hotel pool.
But be prepared to be stared at, especially female...
Sleevess shirt for you is quite ok too.

Shorts leave a lot for mosquitos to bite though.

Merchant · Oct 28th, 2005, 23:54

The deal with dressing in India is not so much what is "acceptable" (India is a free country, and people can wear anything they want, including nothing but sacred ash and waistchain).

It's more about how you wish to be treated--by hotel staff, shopkeepers, cops, passersby, etc. India is a conservative country (indeed, the world is dominated by socially conservative countries), so wearing more clothes, as opposed to fewer, will place you closer to the center of local cultural norms.

seventies'hippy · Oct 29th, 2005, 00:16

Around the vicinity of a beach you can wear just about anything,,,,,,,,,
Venture into a shopping area then wear a little more.
In the last 30+ years Goans have seen or heard about it all before they won't be shocked nor will goans within reason ogle you. It's the groups of young lads from out of state that will do that.
Just by asking this question tells me that you are concious tourists so go with that, If you feel ok with what you are wearing in the place you are in, Thats fine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Enjoy your trip & thanks for asking, I wish a lot more of my fellow countrymen would be as aware as you are. but I won't drift down that road here.

Have a great time

kohinoor · Oct 29th, 2005, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

Around the vicinity of a beach you can wear just about anything,,,,,,,,,

Yes, I was just about to add that, be yourself - both female and male

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

Venture into a shopping area then wear a little more.

Something over knees and shoulders for woman is very appropriate in the cities and when visiting locals.
When wearing shorts, a long skirt you just wrap around your waist is very handy.

Remember, cloths also protect you from sun and mosquitos.

Enjoy your trip!

I'll be there too in November.

seventies'hippy · Oct 29th, 2005, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by kohinoor

Yes, I was just about to add that, be yourself - both female and male

Something over knees and shoulders for woman is very appropriate in the cities and when visiting locals.
When wearing shorts, a long skirt you just wrap around your waist is very handy.

Remember, cloths also protect you from sun and mosquitos.

Enjoy your trip!

I'll be there too in November.

Shorts & t-shirts are fine & almost the norm anywhere in Goa for westerners, Even in religious areas like Old Goa you wouldn't be frowned upon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

kohinoor · Oct 29th, 2005, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

Shorts & t-shirts are fine & almost the norm anywhere in Goa for westerners, Even in religious areas like Old Goa you wouldn't be frowned upon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Yes, but as there are various lenght of shorts, those very short shorts, which look like panties, are practical to put under your wrapped skirt. I was adviced not to wear shorts or tops when visiting temples and churches in Old Goa.

crvlvr · Oct 29th, 2005, 03:43

Merchant gives sound advice. I really find it difficult to understand why there are some many questions on how to dress..

Seriously, how difficult is it for a tourist to look around and see what the locals are wearing and make appropriate adjustment to their own attire? A good rule of thumb is to start of being conservative and then reveal as deemed appropriate by the environment. As an example, IMHO, a tourist who goes to any beach topless on her first day would essentially be stupid.

seventies'hippy · Oct 29th, 2005, 03:50

I think the dress code in Goa is slightly different from the rest of India,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sama · Oct 29th, 2005, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

Merchant gives sound advice. I really find it difficult to understand why there are some many questions on how to dress..

Seriously, how difficult is it for a tourist to look around and see what the locals are wearing and make appropriate adjustment to their own attire? A good rule of thumb is to start of being conservative and then reveal as deemed appropriate by the environment. As an example, IMHO, a tourist who goes to any beach topless on her first day would essentially be stupid.

unfortunately, crvlr, common sense ain't too common anymore....
what you say about starting out conservative, is right on.

I did that in Chennai -- before I left I was told "NO BARE ARMS! ALWAYS HAVE SLEEVES!". Then I got there and found out that was not true at all.

GoanCanuck · Oct 29th, 2005, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

I think the dress code in Goa is slightly different from the rest of India,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Indeed it is different. Nowhere else in India other than Goa will you find a 19 year old Hindu village girl wearing a skirt.

Username · Oct 29th, 2005, 12:33

awesome thanks for the info guys. I'll direct this thread towards my girlfriend so she knows what to wear. If we get in trouble or anything, it will be her fault. It seems i can wear whatever.

aholic_2907 · Oct 30th, 2005, 12:36

hey its tuxedos for men and gowns for women. cant go anywhere without them.

Oct 28th, 2005, 23:19	#1
Username Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: US Posts: 10	Dress code in Goa? Me and my girlfriend will be in Goa in November. We will be in south goa for 3 days and 6 days in North Goa. We are both from the US and dress like it. Was wondering if there was a dress code me and girlfriend would have to stick to? When i went to Thailand, she wore a bikini and i went topless with swimming trunks to the beach or pool. And when we went out to party she would wear shorts and low cut shirt and i would wear shorts and a t-shirt, if not both in jeans. Is it appropriate for me to wear sleeveless shirts? Cause it get's hot. And after searching this site, i'm gettin mixed reviews as of what is acceptable for women. She likes wearing light clothing, short and low. I like wearing shorts and sleevless shirts if not topless. Please help, I only have 15 more days left.

Oct 28th, 2005, 23:43	#2
kohinoor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: east & west Posts: 182	Bikini on the beach is normal among western people, and ok. The same goes with your hotel pool. But be prepared to be stared at, especially female... Sleevess shirt for you is quite ok too. Shorts leave a lot for mosquitos to bite though. __________________ - Om is where the Art is -

Oct 29th, 2005, 00:16	#4
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,127	Around the vicinity of a beach you can wear just about anything,,,,,,,,, Venture into a shopping area then wear a little more. In the last 30+ years Goans have seen or heard about it all before they won't be shocked nor will goans within reason ogle you. It's the groups of young lads from out of state that will do that. Just by asking this question tells me that you are concious tourists so go with that, If you feel ok with what you are wearing in the place you are in, Thats fine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Enjoy your trip & thanks for asking, I wish a lot more of my fellow countrymen would be as aware as you are. but I won't drift down that road here. Have a great time __________________ . . . My Photo Gallery

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Oct 28th, 2005, 23:54	#3
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	The deal with dressing in India is not so much what is "acceptable" (India is a free country, and people can wear anything they want, including nothing but sacred ash and waistchain). It's more about how you wish to be treated--by hotel staff, shopkeepers, cops, passersby, etc. India is a conservative country (indeed, the world is dominated by socially conservative countries), so wearing more clothes, as opposed to fewer, will place you closer to the center of local cultural norms.

Oct 29th, 2005, 03:43	#8
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: On the move in India.. Posts: 4,535	Merchant gives sound advice. I really find it difficult to understand why there are some many questions on how to dress.. Seriously, how difficult is it for a tourist to look around and see what the locals are wearing and make appropriate adjustment to their own attire? A good rule of thumb is to start of being conservative and then reveal as deemed appropriate by the environment. As an example, IMHO, a tourist who goes to any beach topless on her first day would essentially be stupid.

Oct 29th, 2005, 03:50	#9
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,127	I think the dress code in Goa is slightly different from the rest of India,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Oct 29th, 2005, 12:33	#12
Username Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: US Posts: 10	awesome thanks for the info guys. I'll direct this thread towards my girlfriend so she knows what to wear. If we get in trouble or anything, it will be her fault. It seems i can wear whatever.

Oct 30th, 2005, 12:36	#13
aholic_2907 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 222	hey its tuxedos for men and gowns for women. cant go anywhere without them.

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