‘The White Lotus’ costume designer shares tips for channeling Season 3’s ‘bold’ and ‘big’ style
Page Six may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.
The guests at the White Lotus sure aren’t shrinking violets — and neither are their outfits.
With Season 3 of the HBO hit finally here, a new cast of characters is checking into the titular hotel and unpacking their extensive luxury wardrobes, curated by head costume designer Alex Bovaird.
“We have a little bit of a rule …. there are no jeans [and] not a lot of black,” the fashion pro, who’s worked on all three seasons, tells Page Six Style. “[We] don’t really repeat clothes.”
One thing the show does repeat, however? A formula for instantly viral moments — in part thanks to A-list stars like Parker Posey, who Bovaird says was the “most collaborative” on her character’s looks.
“She brought some things that were her mother’s or her grandmother’s, like a watch and a ring; she has such a great sense of style,” the costume expert tells us, adding that Posey was particularly inspired by Tuckernuck‘s “beachy, preppy” attire, too.
After all, while this season’s based in Thailand, Bovaird also sourced pieces everywhere from local shops to “old ramshackle seaside towns in the UK” — resulting in a “huge kind of [clothing] warehouse that we shipped …. all over,” she says.
But if you’re inspired by the show’s luxe aesthetic, you won’t need a warehouse worth of options to re-create it. (Just ask Bovaird, who recently teamed up with H&M on a “White Lotus”-inspired collection.)
“We all aspire to have these … adventures that lie before us and unknown mysteries,” she says of the dramedy’s sartorial allure. “I think there’s a special alchemy.”
Read on for her top tips for bottling that “White Lotus” fashion magic, and to shop pieces inspired by the show.
Go with the flow
The “White Lotus” is hot in more ways than one; “The heat was always against us, but I feel like the actors kind of got used to it,” Bovaird says of shooting on location in Thailand. “We were always fighting the sweat.”
The antidote? “Flowy everything,” she says, noting that they used Australian label Casa Raki “a lot” on the show.
Shop the look:
Tuckernuck Wildflower Smocked Lisbon Caftan
Farm Rio Fish Top Dress
TUCKERNUCK $280.00 FARM RIO $280.00
Casa Raki Rita Dress
Don’t be afraid to go strapless
Stay cool in more ways than one with strapless styles, which Bovaird recommends for channeling the women of the Emmy-winning show.
“I always like the girly duos,” she says of her favorite characters to dress. “I think you can maybe be a little bit more experimental with the young girls because that’s their character; they’re more playful.”
Shop the look:
Abercrombie & Fitch Strapless Slip Maxi Dress
Reformation Astoria Dress
Free-est Ravine Mini
Top it off with a straw hat
Whether you’re booking a tropical vacation or simply channeling “White Lotus” vibes in the urban jungle , Bovaird recommends investing in a great straw hat. And while she tells us local wildlife didn’t steal any accessories from the set — “Lizard wranglers [were] there when we were working” — she couldn’t say the same for all the cast.
“The actors would try and steal the hats,” she laughs. “We’d go, ‘Where’s that hat?’ Then we’d see someone wearing it.”
Shop the look:
J.Crew Wide-Brim Raffia Bucket Hat
Little Moon Sunbeam Hat
Lack of Color Paloma Sun Hat
Sport strappy sandals
“I like a strap sandal with a buckle around the ankle,” says Bovaird. “I like putting those on the cast, too, especially if they’ve got long days or they’re walking a lot.”
Shop the look:
Birkenstock Cannes Exquisite Buckled Sandals
K.Jacques Delta Sandals
Birkenstock Milano Big Buckle Sandals
Lead the pack
While the characters of “The White Lotus” certainly don’t pack light, Bovaird recommends sourcing a stylish yet spacious day bag for your next big adventure.
But packability doesn’t completely rule her costume decisions; “[I’m] definitely taking some artistic license with what could actually pack down,” she says, admitting she “went a little crazy this season” with the number of looks for each female character.
Shop the look:
FP Movement Quilted Carryall
J.Crew Berkeley Suede Overnight Tote
Paravel Weekender
Go big or go home
“I’ve been calling it emotional dressing,” says Bovaird. People on ‘The White Lotus’ wear what they feel. They want the best time and so they’re bringing the best clothes … It’s bold, it’s free, it’s taking risks — and no rules, except go big.”
Shop the look:
Jenny Bird Lucille Climber Earrings
My Beachy Side Adora Bead-Detailed Crochet Miniskirt
Alexis Bittar Mosaic Molten Post Earrings
NEIMAN MARCUS $195.00 ALEXIS BITTAR $195.00
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.
Solve the daily Crossword
