BANGKOK FABULOUS — Bangkok’s boys do a brilliant job of dressing themselves. Okay, so there’s a bit of a uniform, but who cares when it’s so damned stylish and, let’s face it, sexy.
Thankfully, Bangkok’s dedicated followers of fashion have snubbed the over-sized trend. We all know it makes you look like you can’t afford tailoring and that you’ve just fished something out of a charity shop bargain bucket and never got around to altering it. Yves Saint Laurent’s roomy double-breasted jackets? Ick. Lanvin’s baggy suits? Let’s leave that eccentric-older-gent look to London.
Instead, BKK’s crowd have embraced color and form. Tailoring is absolutely key to Bangkok’s street style this summer. But, as you’d expect from Bangkok, there’s a fun twist, so read on before you don a three-piece suit into work.
Smart shorts are the star piece of the season, which is both practical for the heat, and pleasing to the eyes of Bangkok’s bottom-watchers. They were all over the runways, and they’re probably on the derrière of a cute guy in your office right now. Most importantly with this trend is that they should fit like a well-cut pair of suit trousers. Look to Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabanna’s spring/summer collections for inspiration. Or really, to any shop in Bangkok, where you will find rails and rails of them in every hue you can imagine.
But, if you’re not comfortable bearing your legs, there are plenty of other ways to display your fashion credentials. Jeans are fashionable in a big way; but don’t get too comfortable. The twist is, you need to wear your jeans with turn-ups. Even if you’re tall enough to wear them like a grown-up. Make no mistake; jeans with turn-ups are sexy. Come on, unleash your inner slutty Victorian and get your ankles out. And please, for the love of god, boys, let this trend finally put an end to those vile “cleavage tops.” They certainly aren’t a sexy way to display your flesh.
Moschino and Michael Bastien championed turn-ups this season, and best of all Moschino even paired theirs with red loafers – another hot trend. Wear without socks to reveal a teasing little flash of ankle. Who knew ankles were an erogenous zone? Yes, everything in me says they shouldn’t be hot, and yet, they still are.
Colored loafers sans socks, such as those seen at Jeremy Scott, Prada, Moschino and just about everyone else, go with every summer trend. A colored element in your outfit is essential if you want to really look as though you’ve nailed this season’s style. Keep your palette lively; choose pastels, navy blues and light-tones with an unexpected dash of color.
As for accessories, Bangkok has its own favorites. A Bruno Mars-esque trilby hat appears to be a trend that will never die, as do over-sized black glasses frames, a patterned cotton scarf and small black flesh plugs in each ear. Et voila! Bangkok Boy Style.
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Bangkok Fabulous: Where Gaby Doman explores fashion and beauty in the Big Mango. If it’s hot, it’s here. And it’s hot in here.
