For a Sunday ensemble perfect for brunching, thrifting, and watching the US Olympic hockey team beat Canada I went with something that would work as a tunic so that yes, I could get out my leggings. It was a little cooler today with some rains here and there, so the staple comfy leg-coverings made an appearance. So did this…
Day 85 - Before
I found a Barong – thanks to REF for the verification that it is indeed the traditional Filipino male wedding shirt 🙂 – and wanted to make it work on me. I’m not a Filipino male but had every intention to rock it out as they do at their celebrations! Because it was a little larger on me, I took in the sleeves a bit as well as the width. I love the embroidery – the detail is absolutely stunning and I wanted to make it pop, so I grabbed my trusty box of dyes and went with a purple shade. After, you ask? It looked like this.
Day 85 - After
The perfect little tunic over my leggings and a black cami! I rolled up the sleeves and took my fave toad clasped belt to cinch the waist in a little more.
ECU! (Embroidery Close Up!)
Chic, yes. And, the most comfy, colorful outfit to spend Sunday in? Yes to that as well.
New Dress A Day 
you are just too creative! i’m a filipina and i’ve never seen a barong done that way before, nor have i ever planned on wearing one! lol. good job, btw 🙂 me likey.
Maraming salamat Issa 🙂 So happy you likey!
Wow really pretty! Very informational post too. I never knew that’s what a Filipino wedding shirt was called!
Yeah! I actually checked in with one of my girlfriends to find out the specific name for them. I’ve been seeing them often in my thrifting travels, so I thought that it was time to play!
This may be my new fave!
I think this is my favorite so far…or at least I can see myself wearing this!
And it’s rather easy to do too! If you find one, just dye it and cinch it with a belt…
This is so awesome! I’ll order every color of the rainbow!!
Oh, beautiful! I think the purple version actually brings out the details better. (Aside: one of my best friend’s prom dates wore a barong to prom. It was as semi-transparent as yours. The pictures are bad.)
Totally agree – the color highlighted the embroidery so nicely. PS, you may need to secretly forward some of those prom pics my way. All our dates wore red plaid vests 🙂
never, right issa? how come no one has ever made that in the philippines.
so pretty!
absolutely cute! I think I may have to ask my dad for his old barongs so i can do this!!!!
This is my favorite so far (I just found out about you so I’m reading through the first half of the year all in one night lol). I love your blog!
I am a Filipina (meaning a female) and I tell you I have never had the chance top wear a barong before!!! This is absolutely amazing! thumbs up! 🙂
hi! i like what you did with the barong. the purple dye really brought out the its details. i’ve never seen anyone do that to a barong before, and i have lived in the Philippines for a long time. kudos to you!
Love what you did to the Barong. I am Filipina and I never thought of wearing it that way. Barong to us Filipino is what suits are to westerners. Men and women wear it for formal occasions and for work esp for government officials. It comes in different colors actually ranging from the traditional white / cream to purple, yellow and pink. It comes in different fabrics and varies in intricacy of embroidery work. Check this link for more info: http://www.barongtagalog.org/
Wow, really pretty, and the color is just yummy on the eyes 🙂 I totally love what you’ve done to the barong. I’m a Filipina and I just adore the way your creation gave the barong a whole new twist. Hmmm … maybe you could do “magic” on another Filipino traditional dress, the terno, sometime in the future? 🙂
Oh, how about the Maria Clara dress to match this ingenuity? Or maybe the dress Imelda Marcos likes so much? I’d love to see how you’d modify those big… sleeves. If I did learn how to sew, I’ll probably do this on one of dad’s old Barong!
Wow! O_O I’ve never seen a barong so pretty~
It makes me proud of the barong(as i’m a filipino, and proud!) because you liked the embroidery! And your ingenious creativeness to turn it into a dress is so… amazing! gaaah~
For the Filipinos who have never seen re-makes of the barong or its traditional pina and jusi fabric there are a lot of different constructions for both male and female that take inspiration from the traditional cream colored transparent barong. Its not common commercially thought because its more fashion-forward and thus is available only in select boutiques.
beautiful
It’s amazing what a simple color change can do!
I read your entry via Yahoo and a friend shared your blog link with me. Wow! You are officially one of my new fave bloggers.
I wish I could transform my clothes like you but you inspired me to try (if I could). Thanks for sharing! I really love how you transformed trad Barong into a chic one. Thanks Marisa. Makes me want to wear one! 😀
I love how the purple hue brought out the designs of the shirt. :}
I love what you did to the barong! I’m Filipina, and I had my wedding gown made from piña barong. My husband and our wedding party all wore barong; it was yellow (as most pina barongs are as I was told), and slightly gold in color, which was the motif of my wedding. I remember my Dad having purple and gray barong once; maybe I could ask him for it and give it a new twist like you did. Thanks for the new inspiration!!
Hi, it’s me again! Btw, not to be rude or anything, but I noticed your barong is a little bit wrinkly. The trick to that is ironing the barong with a paper on top, that way you avoid ruining the fabric. Thanks again!
Wow…I want! Thank you Marisa for this. Makes me want to go to Divisoria and buy fabric right now! 🙂 Attention, Filipino designers!
I am a Filipina. And I’m so happy to see your output. It’s awesome. I can hardly tell it’s a barong….
LOVE It!!!!
Wow! I’ve never seen a barong used that way. I may just have to steal one of my dad’s old barongs and make one for myself. 😀
Love the purple-dyed barong! How I wish Rit Dye is also available here in the Philippines. 🙂
I literally GASPED out loud when I scrolled down to the newly purple tunic!! Gorge and GORGE!! Eek! Love how the purple brings out the beautiful details!! I want one….
You’re soooooo coooollllllllllllllll…. i love the color!!!!!!!!!!! and the design……….I’am a Filipina ……….. and you gave me an idea how to play with our Barong .
Lol! I had to comment on this one! I just found your blog a little while ago. I was married in the Philippines in Dec and my husband wore a barong like your before picture 🙂
wow. I think I will dye some of my clothes here. thanks for the inspirations! I love what you did wuth this barong. simply beautiful! 🙂
WOW! This one is definitely one of my favorites! The color, the embroidery, everything is perfect about this piece. It’s a winner!
Perfect! I’d have bought this!