A sense of uncertainty hangs in the air as Thais shed all-black outfits for coloured ones and, by extension, a "normal" lifestyle after the royal cremation ceremonies for the late, much beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej ended on the weekend.
What is an appropriate dress code for the "coming out of mourning" occasion? Many people wonder whether they should adopt bright shades to signal that life has to move on no matter how great the sorrow. Some, however, believe that subdued tones would be more respectful considering that the official mourning has only just ended.
The public confusion was profound enough for a government spokesman to clarify people could wear any colour, bright or not, once the official mourning was over. But then again, toward the end of the royal cremation ceremonies, government figures suggested "polite colours" be adopted in the initial period.
Atiya Achakulwisut is a columnist, Bangkok Post.
The problem is there were no suggestions about which exact colours are considered "polite" or how long the "initial" period should last. It's no surprise certain news outlets and lifestyle gurus have come up with their own ideas of what polite, just-out-of-mourning Pantone colours one should adopt, what an appropriate fashion statement is during this period or even how to wear make-up that shows both respect and a will-to-go-forward attitude.
The death of King Rama IX last year, who was largely seen as a stabilising figure in a nation marred by deep-seated structural problems during his reign of over 70 years, may signal the end of an era of relative peace and coexistence that most Thai people have known.
However, it seems to be the culmination of the royal cremation ceremonies which wrapped up on Sunday that truly jolted people out of their deep grief to realise that maybe things will no longer be the same, that they are standing right on the edge of immeasurable change to Thai society and its social construction.
Increasing uncertainty and a heightened degree of people being watchful of one another for "inappropriate behaviour" are indicators that our society is moving into uncharted territory.
In retrospect, the trend emerged last October when reports of people being hounded for not wearing "black enough" clothing or failing to have an "appropriate" ribbon on display during the mourning period started to surface.
In fact, right before the royal cremation started, actor Kan Kantathavorn and his girlfriend Aida Srimoontri were subject to a storm of condemnation after they posted photos of themselves wearing matching, red-coloured jumpers while on holiday in Hungary.
The couple were slammed by netizens for picking the colour red when the country was only days away from the solemn royal event. The actor had to delete the photos from his social media account while his girlfriend apologised to the public for the alleged lack of foresight.
While a fair amount of doubt and confusion may be expected since this is the first royal transition the majority of Thais have seen, it's still remarkable that attempts to "standardise" relations between the public and the institution of the monarchy were swift and strong.
The late King Bhumibol may be best remembered in photos showing him sitting on the same piece of ground with rural villagers or walking among ordinary citizens as he searched for solutions to the country's many problems.
By travelling extensively and reaching even some of the remotest corners of the country, the late King essentially brought the throne closer to ordinary people. His musical compositions, his numerous speeches and his development projects extended the institution's soft power while blurring its perception as demigod-like and distant from the people.
It's notable that things have become much more formal since Oct 13 last year. As centuries-old traditions took over, there seems to have been a clear need for strict protocols. These cover not just how one should dress or behave during royally related events but also in one's private time.
To show respect to the late King prior to the royal cremation, for example, the government suggested people use only marigolds to decorate their offices or households. Even though the government reasoned that marigolds are the late King's designated flower, it is questionable whether it's necessary to monopolise loyalty with just one type of bloom.
As Thailand slowly emerges from its deep mourning period, mundane questions about what to wear are indicative of doubts about larger social constructions and relations. What is appropriate? The question will resonate for quite a while.