In Bali, sarongs are only worn casually. The Balinese term for sarong is used when a light cloth is cut into the shape of a tube skirt, then is sewn together. This is a simple article of clothing that can keep Balinese women cooler on the hot and humid days.
A kamben is a Balinese article of clothing that can be worn by men and women. The kamben, sometimes also called batik, is made from a light cloth, which is then wrapped around a person's body. Men will typically wear their kamben differently than women by wrapping the cloth around their waist and placing a fold in the front. Women wear the kamben tightly around their hips with no folds. Men will tie the kamben in the center of their hips, whereas women will tie on the left side.
Men will wear a saput over the top of a kamben when attending a more formal event. The saput is a bright yellow or white shirt that has a decorative border and is worn with gold-colored buttons.
Balinese women that are participating in a temple or religious ceremony wear an anteng. This article of clothing leaves the shoulders bare but covers the upper body. When wearing an anteng, women will also accessorize it with a large selendang, or shawl that can cover one of the shoulders when needed.
The kebaya is an informal article of clothing that is worn by Balinese people who perform hard labor. The kebaya is a long-sleeved lacy blouse that has looser sleeves. This allows farmers and market workers the ability to have a greater range of movement while keeping their skin covered from the sun.
The tapih is an underskirt worn by women on very special occasions such as weddings. The underskirt is wrapped around the body, then covered with a colored sash, or sabuk. This will only show the left hand and left side of the tapih when walking.
