Mens Barong Tagalog

Men's barong tagalog, the Philippine national costume

The barong tagalog is the formal shirt of the Philippines: sheer, embroidered at the front, worn loose over dark trousers and never tucked in. If somebody has told you to wear one and given no other instruction, you are in the right place, and the whole decision comes down to three things. Fabric, collar, and how far the front opens.

This is our full men's barong tagalog range, from plain everyday pieces through to hand-embroidered piña cocoon for grooms. Around 150 pieces, nearly all cut to your own measurements.

If this is your first barong

Four rules cover almost everything. Wear it out, never tucked. Never with a tie. Dark plain trousers, usually black. And wear a camisa de chino underneath, because a barong is deliberately semi-sheer and is not meant to be worn against the skin.

Beyond that, a barong is formal wear in the same register as a suit. At a Filipino wedding it outranks one. At a non-Filipino black-tie event it is correct national dress, which is always acceptable.

Choose by occasion

• You are the groom

  Go heavier than your entourage so you read differently in photographs. Carlos MR404 in piña cocoon, or a barong coat if the venue is cold.

• Groomsman or wedding guest

  Classic and quieter than the groom. Juan JS3 in jusi or Alfred JF05 in jusilyn. For a whole line-up, use a groomsmen package so the fabric and dye lot match.

• Office, church and everyday formal

  A Chinese collar reads less ceremonial. Alex JS122 in lined jusilyn works for a working day.

• Hot weather and daytime

  Short sleeves are accepted outdoors and in the afternoon. Edward JV111 in black jusi, or browse short sleeve barongs.

Prefer a darker barong? See our black barong tagalog and monochromatic ranges. On a budget, start with budget quality barongs.

The fabrics, from everyday to ceremonial

Every men's barong tagalog we make starts with this choice.

Fabric determines price, formality and how comfortable you will be after three hours. This is the whole hierarchy in one table.

Piña is woven from pineapple leaf fibre and takes far longer to produce, which is the whole reason for the price gap. If you want handwoven regional cloth instead of the classic weaves, see our ethnic and Cordillera barongs.

Collars and front openings

Two choices most people never realise they are making, both of which change how formal the barong looks.

• Regular collar: the traditional pointed collar. The most formal and the most recognisable. See regular collar barongs.
• Chinese collar: a mandarin band, cleaner and more modern. Better with tailored trousers and at business events. See Chinese collar barongs.
• Full open: buttons the whole way down, like a shirt. Easier to put on and to layer. See full open barongs.
• Half open: a partial placket, pulled over the head. The traditional construction. See half open barongs.

Sleeve length is the third variable. Long sleeves for anything formal; short for daytime and heat.

Size and fit

A barong is meant to hang from the shoulder rather than follow the body, so it is more forgiving than a suit. The measurement that decides everything is still the shoulder, taken seam to seam across the back.

Measure in inches over a thin shirt. Philippine sizing runs smaller than American, Canadian or Australian sizing, frequently by a complete size, so the label in your usual shirt is not a reliable guide.

If your shoulder and chest indicate different sizes, ask about custom fitting rather than rounding up. We cut to the numbers you send. For an entourage, order everyone together, because dye lots vary between production runs and two ivory barongs bought months apart will not match.

Looking after a barong

Dry cleaning is safest, particularly for piña, cocoon and anything heavily embroidered. Plainer jusilyn pieces can be hand washed in cool water and laid flat to dry.

Steam rather than iron. A hot iron flattens the crispness that makes a barong sit properly and can scorch the embroidery. Hang it rather than folding it, and it will still look right in a decade.

Dressing the whole family

For partners, see our women's Filipiniana. Children are in the kids collection, and there are ready-made couple and family sets and father and son pairings. Planning a full wedding party? Start at the wedding collection.

Delivery times by country are on our shipping page.

Questions about barong tagalog