Thailand: A Siamese girl beside a water urn, late 19th century. In the mid-to-late 19th century Siam, women wore their hair short and combed back. They wore mid-length trousers, or 'pha nung', which were supported by a belt or tied in a knot. Middle and upper-class women generally wore a cloth over their left shoulder to cover their breasts, leaving their right arm free. Before this time, the midriff and chest were usually left exposed with tattoos decorating the torso. However, when King Chulalongkorn (r. 1868—1910) returned from Europe, he decreed that all women must cover their chests.

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Size: 3359px × 5202px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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