Dushanbe - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business at work and business-casual outside. Tajikistan is pretty conservative and most people dress on the formal side. You virtually never see shorts, even in the heat of the summer. Most women seem to prefer longer pants/skirts and covering their shoulders so they get stared at less. Having said that, unless you look Tajik, you will be stared at all the time, and doubly so in small villages. - Aug 2021
Women tend to dress more modestly - shoulders and knees covered. At work, western style business casual is the norm with some opting for suits regularly. It is not a "formal" embassy per se. - Apr 2021
Business casual. Tajiks are former Soviets so when in doubt, err on the side of suit-and-tie. - Dec 2016
Business casual at work. - Dec 2015
Work is typical office wear - no jeans. In public folks wear whatever they are most comfortable in. Some women did not feel comfortable in sleeveless outfits or short-ish skirts because of the stares you get but I didn't care. - Jun 2014
Shirt and tie. - Mar 2014
Casual and a bit conservative for personal comfort (from staring, etc.), but not for necessity due to cultural expectations. - Oct 2013
Business casual to casual. - Jan 2012
Work depends on the office. The Embassy is generally suits or at least ties. Most NGOs are more casual. In public, same as anywhere else, expect no shorts and no tank tops on women. Many Tajik women wear traditional dress, which is a long caftan over pants (sometimes with terrific sparkles). Tajiks tend to look very neat and take good care of their clothes. I often feel sloppy by comparison. - Jun 2009
Suits at the Embassy, I've seen khakis and button downs otherwise, and even casual on the streets. I will say that people here tend to get dressed up to do anything, especially the women, with full makeup and heels to go home from work. - Jul 2008
