In Bangkok, we don’t have a chance to experiment with half of the fashion trends out there, unless we’re willing to don coats in the steamy city humidity or sweat buckets in cute knee-high boots. Beauty is pain, if you’re really dedicated to the cause.
But while winter trends are more or less a no-no for all but the most die-hard fashionistas, the festival fashions that take the UK and US by storm this time of year provide ideal fodder for Bangkok’s monsoon season. Make Coachella’s most stylish attendees your reference point and it’s hard to go wrong.
Bangkok Fabulous has rounded up the festival fashions that defined this year (and pretty much every other) to ensure that you enjoy a fashionable season in the rain and heat.
Tiny little shorts
The number one thing you’ll need this season is tiny, little shorts. To start with, they’re practical: they dry out faster than jeans and they won’t fly up over your head and reveal your undies when an unexpected breeze whips through the city. Secondly, they look awesome. Alexa Chung (British TV presenter and muse of the UK hipster crowd) is festival royalty and she’s never seen without a pair of coochie-cutters. Think stonewashed denim, a bit worn-looking or high-waisted, and you’re on the right track.
Bra tops
Both Rita Ora and Katy Perry showed off their toned abs with cropped tops at Coachella. Katy Perry went for a garish Dolce & Gabbana number while Rita Ora sported a neon garment, which ticks off another monsoon season must-have…
Neons
Neons are as essential for summer as glitter is for winter. Why? Well, because neon shows off your tan beautifully (as does white, but white in rainy weather is a no-go for most dignified folks). At this year’s festivals, Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosia, worked neon pink shorts, Jessica Alba sported neon orange toe nails and our latest fashion crush, Solange Knowles, worked a J Crew neon floral skirt.
Wellies/ Converse/ Grecian sandals
Shoes are tricky for Bangkok’s monsoon season. It’s difficult balancing fashionable and functional. At the festivals, the shoe of choice is the Wellington boot (preferably Hunter brand, for added label-lover points), but there are obvious drawbacks to the Wellington in your day-to-day (they look very silly in an office setting. Or really any setting other than the center of a puddle). Alternatives include Converse high tops, though they do get very wet, and well-made Grecian sandals, though these fall victim to a similar problem. If you’re looking to keep your feet both fashionable and dry, you’ll find few chances to do so.
Finishing touches
To complete your look, you’re going to need fabulous hair. I’m sorry; I didn’t make the rules, I’m just the messenger. If you look through the best-dressed pics from this year’s festivals, you’ll notice all the women have a beautiful blow dry. I guess it helps add a little glamour to a dressed-down look. You’ll also need the biggest, most expensive sunglasses your budget can accommodate and a butt-load of bangles. An ironic anorak (anoraks are always terrible, so irony is essential to their use) or a really beautiful umbrella complete the ensemble.
