The White Lotus' Costume Designer Tells Us What To Wear In Thailand

Never has a TV show made holiday style the subject of such fascination than The White Lotus. Here, the hit-TV show’s costume designer Alex Bovaird tells us what to wear in Thailand, home to season 3.

For the unfamiliar, every season follows the same format – a group of wealthy guests head to a different branch of a luxury resort called The White Lotus (the first season was set in Hawaii and the second in Sicily).

Every character hides a secret of varying darkness, and it always ends up in murder. Being dressed to kill takes on a different meaning in Mike White’s HBO show where the one per cent get their comeuppance. Its thoughtfully dressed characters have come to exude what the super rich look like on holiday – Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya put dramatic Mar-a-Lago-esque kaftans back on the fashion map, while Aubrey Plaza’s sharply chic aesthetic had an old-school glamour.

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A look from The White Lotus x Camilla collection

Season three, based in Thailand, debuted this week and the fashion bar has been kept equally high, with carefree bohemia from Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Southern rich-mum chic from Victoria (Parker Posey) and upbeat LA luxe from Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and her two best friends. Such is the style impact of the show that multiple fashion brands have launched spin-off collections, including H&M and Camilla. Costume designer Alex Bovaird, who has worked across all three series, says there’s a sartorial language that unites all characters.

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Aimee Lou Wood in season three of The White Lotus. Photograph by Fabio Lovino/HBO

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Charlotte Le Bon in season three of The White Lotus. Photograph by Fabio Lovino/HBO

“It’s grounded so that we recognise these characters, but elevated and a little bit amped-up – everyone dresses up for dinner for example,” she told us. “The White Lotus guests bring the best version of themselves. It’s as if they’re writing a postcard version of their lives that signifies their wealth, emotions and status.” 

It’s the opposite of the quiet luxury that characterised the wealthy elite of Succession. Bovaird sourced key pieces from Valentino and Chanel, but also from various market stalls and vintage stores in Thailand. “We are definitely loud,” she laughs. “People are in their own world – it harkens back to those old days where people went on cruises and packed their best outfits for the evening. It’s a throwback, but also its own orbit where everyone is in technicolour.”

Bovaird spent eight months in Thailand filming the series, making her an expert on where to shop and what to pack regardless of where you’re staying. Here, she shares her essentials, plus her Thai address book to ensure you come home with the most sought-after souvenirs. 

A NECKERCHIEF

“A scarf to cover your neck and dab up any perspiration is a must. I was always tying a cotton scarf round my neck like a bandana. I have an Hermès scarf that I wore constantly.”

WIDE-LEG PANTS

“It’s so hot, so you have to take that into consideration. I chose breathable fabrics, so there was a lot of linen, and loose silhouettes.”

STRAW HAT

“I styled the cast in a lot of hats to ensure that the sun was kept off their face. A lot of them were removed at the last minute as they obscured the characters’ faces too much for filming, but they’re a great way of staying cool and looking chic in the heat.”

A SLEEVELESS DRESS

“I experimented with long linen shirts, but they made me hotter. A lot of the actors would cover up completely to protect their skin. They would wear SPF sun shirts, which is a great idea if you’re fair. I found that sleeveless dresses were airier.”