There’s a fine balance to the art of White Lotus resortwear. Relaxed but never slovenly. Showy but curated. Colorful but cohesive. Difficult to pinpoint but instantly recognizable. As costume designer Alex Bovaird put it to ELLE, The White Lotus season 3 costumes can best be described as “emotional dressing,” and each character has a wardrobe and a color palette that’s suited to their mood—and the personality they most want to project. The clothes communicate how these rich vacationers see themselves and how they want to be seen. And if you’re one of the thousands of HBO fans tuning in each week to learn what they’ll wear (and, eventually, who they’ll kill), you might find yourself eager to slip into a bikini and caftan yourself.
The White Lotus is all about presentation, performance, and preening, and Bovaird understands why that matters, even if the aesthetic itself is exaggerated. “Interestingly, at actual five-star resorts, I notice much simpler styles than what we show on The White Lotus,” Bovaird told Condé Nast Traveler earlier this month. “We deliberately avoid sweatpants and jeans, and you’ll see more high heels at our beach BBQs than you’d ever find in real life. We’re putting on a show, after all—it’s about entertainment and enjoyment.” In a separate interview with Who What Wear, she put it this way: “We imagine [the characters] are bringing their best selves or wearing something they’ve always wanted to or projecting their aspirations for the holiday into their suitcase.”
If you happen to see a spark of your “best self” in one of The White Lotus’s leading ladies, I’d, first and foremost, schedule a call with your therapist. But if it’s the clothes you find inspiring, here’s how best to pack your suitcase to emulate their looks.
Chelsea
Aimee Lou Wood’s Chelsea is arguably the most laidback of the women swanning around the hotel, largely because she doesn’t feel she has much to prove. She’s there for a good time—and to help her soulmate, Rick (Walton Goggins), carry the weight of his childhood baggage. Chelsea leads with her heart, as Wood told ELLE ahead of the season premiere. “She’s an actor’s dream because she is just all feeling,” Wood said. “She just tends to [be] stream of consciousness and just go for it. And she’s pretty impulsive, but she is an Aries, so that is inevitable.”
To highlight Chelsea’s attitude through her clothes, Bovaird needed to treat the character as both well-traveled and a tad unusual. She elaborated on her approach to Chelsea in an interview with Tara Maria Gonzalez of the Substack newsletter Cult Classic: “You’re supposed to look at [Chelsea and Rick] and think, ‘What are these guys up to?’ I was inspired by True Romance a little bit with them. They’re supposed to give off that vibe and be crackly and fizzly. And she’s very sexy-looking when we see [Chelsea]. She’s lounging around on the boat in her little crochet dress and sandals, and she’s got some cheetah eyewear. They’re supposed to be intriguing. And so we tried to make their costumes vivid and colorful.”
To get the Chelsea look, lean into confident-but-easy silhouettes; textured materials; and practical accessories collected from far-off locales. You want to appear worldly but approachable, your wardrobe consisting not of trendy impulse buys but of pieces that speak to your soul.
Frankie’s Bikinis Nick String Triangle Bikini Top
Gorjana Griffin Dog Tag Necklace
Kate
Kate, as portrayed by Leslie Bibb and her infamous bob, arrives in Thailand as part of a trio of longtime friends. Of the three, she’s the “more restrained,” Bovaird told Yahoo Entertainment, and is the kind of woman who “goes home and puts her pajamas on after a night of partying as the other girls are taking their clothes off.” But that doesn’t mean her pajamas aren’t gorgeous.
Fond of florals and silks, halter tops and abstract shapes, Kate’s clothes tend to lean more elegant than those of her friends. But, according to Bovaird, she also borrows frequently from her celebrity pal Jaclyn’s closet. “Because [Jaclyn] gets sent things as an actress, we [internally] had a little story point that maybe she bequeaths some on her friends, too,” Bovaird recently told Bustle. “So we imagine that some of Kate’s designer pieces were handed out by Jaclyn.”
A few tips if you want to nail Kate’s aesthetic: Choose well-made, lightweight materials in distinctive but not ostentatious prints. Stock up on blacks and whites, but if you do yearn for color, reach for blues, reds, yellows, and pinks. Don’t be afraid to rock a crop top. Oh, and find a famous friend’s closet to raid. Easy enough.
Laurie
Speaking of swapping wardrobes, Bovaird told Cult Classic that the trio of Kate, Laurie, and Jaclyn wear similar colors and “fancy bags” to “look like one big blonde blob” because, ultimately, “they’re dressing for each other.” They arrive in Thailand in coordinating hues and voguish accessories, but as their passive aggression starts to extend to their outfits, you’ll notice subtle shifts.
Bovaird told Yahoo that Laurie, in particular, starts off dressing “a little more drab” at the beginning of the season as a way to “project an image” of the level-headed, forward-charging New York lawyer. But as the finale draws nearer, Laurie’s looks have increasingly taken on the spiky, saturated energy that gets her in trouble in episode 7.
To match that feeling, you’ll, of course, need to start with the building blocks of Laurie’s wardrobe: a trusty sun hat and linen shirt to throw over swimsuits and sundresses. From there, invest in comfortable but eye-catching pieces: satin gowns and linen pants, graphic cotton T-shirts, and gold jewelry. A pineapple pool floatie is not essential...but comes highly recommended.
Ronny Kobo Estere Satin Halter Maxi Dress
Alémais Surrealist Summer Sundress
Jaclyn
Of the three friends, actress Jaclyn Lemon is most eager to flaunt her wealth and status. While Kate and Laurie also wear designer frocks and accessories, Jaclyn embraces logomania, making sure her fellow guests know she’s sporting Gucci. Bovaird described the character to Yahoo as “a butterfly,” her outfits “bright and bold and colorful and sparkly.”
To evoke Jaclyn, you’ll either need a sizable bank account or a sharp nose for discounted vintage. Opt for bright, youthful colors; sequins and short hems; kimonos paired with bikinis; matching shirts-and-shorts sets; and diamond jewelry to go with your Erewhon tote or Valentino purse.
Farm Rio Blue Palm Trees Richelieu Short
Valentino Garavani Small Textured-Leather Shoulder Bag
Belinda
Belinda often looks like she’s wearing an oil or watercolor painting. Even as she becomes increasingly convinced she’s in danger in Thailand, Natasha Rothwell’s season-hopping The White Lotus character adorns herself in gorgeous, billowing fabrics from brands including Verandah and Lilly Pulitzer—some floral, others geometric; some simple, others striking. Even dressed in the official monochrome uniforms of The White Lotus itself, she exudes a hard-fought peace.
Regardless of whether that peace lasts, you can take a page from her fashion mood board with the right selection of wrap dresses, silk robes, cover-ups, and caftans.
Palm Panel Kaftan Dress
Sea Cassandra Floral Cotton Midi Caftan
La DoubleJ Printed Silk Maxi Dress
Victoria
Parker Posey’s Victoria Ratliff is the quintessential Southern country-club dame, her suitcases packed in shades of blue, white, peach, and purple. You’ll notice the Tar Heel alumna always looks comfortable—even sleepy—but rarely disheveled. You won’t catch her with wet hair or sandy shoes, and her lorazepam is stuffed not in a beach tote but in a Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag.
As Bovaird told Who What Wear, Victoria “doesn’t really go to the pool; she doesn’t go to the beach. She just sort of hangs around being comfortable, getting massages, getting treatments, and staying in her comfort zone...She doesn’t even know where she is, really, half the time, so she has these big flouncy caftans. Looks very elegant for dinner, looks spot on for arriving, but isn’t laying out in the sand.” When she does get dolled up for dinner or G&Ts, she always seems pampered and detached, as if she can’t wait for her next opportunity to lie down.
The best way to emulate such a vibe? Comfort is key. But don’t reach for fleece or denim. (Frankly, Victoria would balk.) Instead, opt for Jim Thompson caftans, floral sundresses, colored-lens sunglasses, and silk scarves as accessories. And don’t neglect to pack your prescription.
The Hill House x La Coqueta Fleur Midi Dress
Petite Plume Navy French Ticking Stripe Cotton Caftan
Gucci Bamboo 1947 Mini Bag
Piper
The only Ratliff daughter might have an independent streak—she wants to move away from North Carolina and live in Thailand, after all—but she doesn’t dress like much of a rebel. Her closet is filled with girlish, almost doll-like dresses from brands including Ralph Lauren and Ciao Lucia, the fabrics consisting almost exclusively of pastels and florals. Even her swimsuits are in sweet, citrus-y colors and straightforward cuts.
Bovaird told Cult Classic, “I had a lot of fun dressing [Piper] because she just really has a mode...We imagine her as a young Brooke Shields. She’s part of the southern family, but she’s also the heart of that family.”
There’s a degree of modesty and simplicity that defines Piper’s closet. To shop like her, choose a midi dress in classic nautical colors (a sweetheart neckline, button-up, or bib collar works best!) and pair it with peep-toe sandals and a canvas bag.
Jimmy Choo Avenue Leather Wedge Sandals
Chloe
Of the White Lotus women, Chloe gets the strongest party-girl treatment. As the young girlfriend of the wealthy Greg/Gary, she treats herself to custom Jacquemus and vintage Versace, her playful cat-eye sunglasses a nod to her own mischief-seeking. Everything from her jewelry to her swimsuits broadcast “former model,” her flashy wardrobe a clear attempt to fight off her own boredom. As Bovaird pointed out to Women’s Wear Daily, Chloe wears a lot of “black and white,” and was the right character to wear Jacquemus “because she’s young, travels a lot, and probably spent a lot of time in Saint-Tropez.”
Bovaird also argued that Chloe’s outfits are “striking, but not overwhelming.” If you’re eager to dress like her, don’t worry so much about shopping the same designer pieces. Instead, focus your efforts on her color and pattern preferences (don’t neglect the polka dots!) and on projecting her confidence. As Bovaird put it, “She’s so strong and just doesn’t give a heck.”
Raen Keera Sunglasses
Jacquemus Le Bambola Leather-Trimmed Tote Bag
Hunza G Square Neck Swimsuit
Mook
Lalisa Manobal might be one of the biggest stars in Thailand—and, frankly, the whole world—but her White Lotus character, Mook, doesn’t get many opportunities to show off her fashion bonafides. She’s usually suited up in the staff’s khaki Tombolo shorts and canvas shirt, though occasionally she’ll wear traditional Thai attire for dance shows at the hotel. (Bovaird told Yahoo, “I really leaned on my Thai staff and the choreographer. Certain dances required slightly different looks.”)
Our first glance at Mook’s off-duty attire comes in episode 7, when she wears a cutesy Mitr minidress on a date with Gaitok. But until we get a better idea of her specific style preferences, the best way to match her is with shorts and a classic collared resort tee.
Zimmerman Short Sleeve Shirt
Sritala
Bovaird described Lek Patravadi’s hotel owner Sritala Hollinger to Cult Classic as “a Thai diva” who’s “very ostentatious in her first outfits.” Sritala is by far the most regal of The White Lotus women, and she dresses like she knows it. Her Verandah caftans and Saint Laurent sunglasses point to her celebrity background, as well as her desire to step into the spotlight once more as a Hollywood actress. To mirror her look, choose decadent jewel tones, metallic accents, and dramatic jewelry—particularly drop earrings and brooches.
Marie France Van Damme Boubou Velour Devoré Caftan
