A Siamese woman photographed during the reign of King Mongkut.

In mid-19th century Siam, both men and women wore wore similar hairstyles, with the head shaved except for a round tuft on the crown which was spiked like a brush. Both sexes also wore mid-length trousers, or 'pha nung', which were supported by a belt, often made from silver. Middle and upper-class women generally wore a sarong or cloth over their left shoulder to cover their breast, leaving their right arm free. Before this time, the midriff and chest were usually left exposed with tattoos decorating the torso. (Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)