Apec leaders once again don traditional shirts at their Indonesia summit

After falling out of favour during the global economic turmoil, Apec's propensity for dressing up its leaders in "silly shirts" returned with a gusto yesterday as Indonesia's guitar-strumming president led a stylish parade of Balinese design.

US President Barack Obama was a notable absentee, but Secretary of State John Kerry was there, sporting a purple shirt made of a silk-like Balinese fabric called "endek".

While the fabric was woven in Indonesia, it came from China, a win-win outcome given Apec's stated goal of tearing down trade barriers.

President Xi Jinping came in communist red while Russian President Vladimir Putin - who also dispensed with the Apec shirts tradition in Vladivostok last year - wore green.

The shirts and blouses were on display as the heads of government trooped in to greet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the start of a summit dinner.

"After an already busy first day, and tomorrow's tight schedule, let us relax, enjoy the dinner and cultural performance tonight," Yudhoyono said before a gala performance that featured Balinese dancers and, later, a full-throated rendition of Psy's Gangnam Style by two male singers.