Among Thailand’s leading female entrepreneurs, Pranapda Phornprapha is the founder of Paroshoot, the local distributor of fashion brands Christian Louboutin, Missoni, Berluti and Havaianas, so it’s no wonder she consistently ranks as one of society’s most stylish ladies. Her keen eye for fashion ensures she always is impeccably turned out, be it a smart casual look for the day or a head-turning ensemble for an evening soiree. Viewing fashion as a form of self-expression, the Brown University graduate says she isn’t one to follow trends and she won’t limit herself to a single style. Rather, her choice of daily outfit and colours depends very much on her mood. She does admit to having a preference for the classic look and a dislike of the colour pink. She is also fond of ethnic designs and materials. Her current favourite brands include Johanna Ortiz, Australia’s Zimmerman, Rag&Bone and Brunello Cuccinelli. A philanthropist at heart, Pranapda is also the founder of Dragonfly, a regional platform that seeks to address gender equality. A trooper mum and businesswoman, she excels in taking on multiple senior executive roles, including directorships of the family-owned Siam Motors and Yamaha Music School.
Having headed Christian Dior in Thailand, Sirisopa Chulasewok is very much au fait with the world of fashion and even more so of the shapes, colours and aesthetics that suit her figure. Her quintessential style never disappoints but then her interest in fashion began when she was a little girl watching her mother get dolled up and accompanying her to local couturiers. A self-confessed shopaholic, her busy lifestyle means Sirisopa can’t hit the shops as frequently has she’d like, so she has a personal shopper to help her acquire designer pieces. She also admits to having an obsession with fashionable leather gloves, so much so that she has become a collector, preferring purchases from Italy. With a preference for solid colours and classic looks, she is currently a fan of Zimmerman and Asava. As for her go-to casual look, a pair of skinny jeans and a statement jacket make a chic day-to-day outfit. Also a shareholder in the now defunct multi-label fashion boutique Beige, over the years she has shifted her career focus and now is a partner at the Nara chain of Thai restaurants. With her drive to give back to society, the Boston University graduate has plans to dedicate more time to philanthropic efforts, including building Buddhist temples and helping to improve the education system in Thailand.
Orawan Setabandhu is an entrepreneur and owner and designer of jewellery brand Olivia Diamonds. She also co-founded No 209 Spa, which offers remedial massages. One of Thailand’s best-dressed fashion icons, her fashion style never fails to attract attention among the glitterati of all ages. While favouring classic over trendy, she never limits herself and enjoys switching up styles. Her closet unsurprisingly is home to a large variety of uniquely cool outfits ranging from the casual to the extravagant. There’s a certain kind of elegance in simplicity and somehow Orawan effortlessly achieves this in her wardrobe. Tasteful in her choice of clothes, she often flaunts simple outfits with interesting cuts. Among her favourite brands are Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester and Saint Laurent. She can literally pull off just about any outfit and truly has a knack for mixing different garments together into an awesome stylistic melange. Fashion interests aside, she is married to Sirot and the pair enjoy travelling with their two sons.
Designer and online star Vatanika’s eponymous fashion label has gone beyond Thai borders and garnered international recognition since its establishment in 2011. Like many working in the apparel industry, she is extremely fashionable with a look best described as hot. Boasting luxurious fabrics and extravagantly chic designs, her outfits very much mirror her ultra-fabulous lifestyle. Clean-cut and classy with a touch of punk and a few fun twists is how she describes her fashion sensibilities. She’s a fan of feminine silhouettes and not one to shy away from showing her figure. A fashion item she admits she cannot do without is a simple black blazer, which is suitable for all occasions. The graduate of Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion has recently garnered fame for her YouTube reality show This is Me Vatanika and last year she teamed up with leading Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller on a collection of exquisite timepieces for women. Lately Vatanika has worked on a fundraising project with UN Women and other charitable initiatives and says she is committed to women’s empowerment. Ultimately she hopes her designs make woman feel special, confident and beautiful.
Few can pull off the less-is-more look like Sittharmanin, or Pam. She is the managing director of Superrich Thailand, the country’s leading currency-exchange company. A reflection of the serious businesswoman in her, Pam’s unmistakeable look—usually in black or sombre tones—combines minimalism with masculinity. Often spotted in an empowering suit, her fashion sense is the embodiment of self-confidence and chic in one. She is humble by nature and her calm and quiet demeanour certainly helps to explain her low-key yet undeniably cool appearance. When attending a gala where evening gowns are required, her outfit, with just the right amount of glam and characterised by stunning cuts, is a sight for sore eyes. Behind the poised and elegant businesswoman exterior, she is a true explorer at heart and thrives on adventure. So when she isn’t working she can probably be found scaling a distant mountaintop or traversing a desert half way across the world.
Managing director of Sampatilert Co Ltd, Naphaporn’s eye-catching sense of style and her fashion picks have occasionally led to her being called Thailand’s Paris Hilton. The ‘retired’ party-girl still cuts a dash when she’s out and about, but then it’s hard not to when you are blessed with a great figure and a sense of elan. She describes her current preferred fashion tastes as erring on the masculine—think trouser suits, collared business shirts, jeans and blazers—and although she can carry off ‘delicate feminine’ with panache, she says she likes to throw in a manly touch occasionally with a chunky men’s watch or heavy-soled shoe. Behind the exterior of glitz and glam though is a serious businesswoman immersed in the daily responsibilities of running a successful family hospitality business to which she recently added Thailand’s first dedicated school for butlers. Under her stewardship the annual Nai Lert Flower & Garden Art Fair has become a globally recognised event. The well-heeled executive is also looking forward to the much anticipated launch of the Aman Nai Lert Bangkok project in the coming months.
Cut Tipanan Srifuengfung and she’ll bleed fashion. It was all she wanted to be involved with as a youngster and not long after graduating with a master’s degree in the field from Istituto Marangoni in Milan she founded popular leather bag brand Tu’i. Blessed with model looks and a figure to match, the granddaughter of former prime minister Anand Panyarachun is a mother of two sons. While she rocks anything she cares to wear, she admits a preference for structured designs that create unique silhouettes. Tipanan is also a big fan of all things vintage and her outfits are often complemented by funky old school accessories. Some of her favourite brands include Lanvin, Dior and Givenchy and locally she supports designers Vatit Itthi and T-Ra. When she isn’t front and centre the fashionista reverts to being something of a bookworm and loves to lose herself in a good read at home.
Hotel and property group heiress Tirawan Taechaubol admits she wasn’t much of a fashionista when she was young and it wasn’t until late in her college days that she began to develop sartorial interests. Her laid-back personality matches her approach to fashion. Although she loves to shop, like most style icons, Tirawan feels just as confident and beautiful in simple casual attire such as a rugby shirt and denims. In fact, her closet is filled with white T-shirts, a casual item that can form the base of multiple ensembles. Among her favourite brands are Missoni, Lanvin, Chanel and Giambattista Valli. While always looking stunning at events that require formal attire, Tirawan never opts for the ultra-feminine look. The Chulalongkorn University graduate is also fond of art and excels in her job as project development manager at Kasemkij, one of Thailand’s leading property development and management companies with brands like the Cape and Kantary hotel chains in its stable. A philanthropist at heart, she is also involved in the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the SOS Foundation.
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Nalinee’s family runs the Aetas Hotels and Residences group and she has long been recognised as a one of Thailand’s well-dressed ladies. The daughter of former beauty queen Usanee, she shares her mother’s knack for picking styles and wearing them well. She was a co-founder and investor in the multi-brand apparel distributors Beige and Cloud9, both now closed. On a personal level Nalinee has a preference for more laid-back and relaxed designs, often with little added twists, and outfits that highlight her shapely curves. Rather than focussing on the extravagant, she likes to complement her looks with well-chosen pieces of jewellery. The results are always an exemplary combination of understated elegance imbued with practical comfort. She will often be seen dressed in flattering attire by the likes of Zimmermann, Junya Watanabe and Dries Van Noten and bags and shoes by Chanel, Bottega Veneta and Loewe are among her go-to accessory choices. When she’s not running taken up with her various personal and family business interests or jet-setting the globe, you’ll probably find Nalinee in the gym maintaining her svelte form.
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