The Designers and Details Behind ‘The White Lotus’ Season 2’s Best Looks

Much to its audience’s pleasure, HBO has green-lit yet another season of the gripping, raunchy, and wonderfully written The White Lotus, to be set in Thailand. Season 1 made its debut in July 2021, and its successor arrived the following year in October. The second season received an overwhelming number of nominations during award season with Jennifer Coolidge even taking home a Primetime Emmy Award.

As an avid fan of the series, particularly season 2, I can’t stress enough what a stunning job the styling department has done on every single character, each look a depiction of the their status, personality, and emotional world. Whether you’re old-school like Harper, flamboyant like Tanya, or young, lost and experimental like Portia, there is a trusty look-book in here for you. Join us while we break down some of the women’s looks on Season 2 of The White Lotus.

Tanya McQuoid

Tanya, who returned from Season 1, more stylish than ever, re-enters the series starting out strong in a Floral Print Cady Dress by Dolce & Gabbana, paired with a V-logo clutch Bag by Valentino.

Later, she adorns a Blue Handmade Knit Cardigan-Dress with Pearl Buttons by Ukranian designer Andreeva, known for their authentic knitted products made from high-quality yarn. This dress, sleeves feathered in pink, becomes Tanya’s entry point into her pivotal friendship with Quentin, a wealthy Englishman who lives in Palermo. As an outfit that essentially acted as the turning point for the plot, it had to make a statement, and it did so spectacularly.

Then, in a sort of climax outfit in Tanya’s plot-line, she makes a grand entrance with a Metallic Lace-Accent Gown by Alberta Ferretti, covered by a shimmering, opera cloak. This sinister yet striking look does perfectly well to set the scene for the dark turns of the storyline, soon to be revealed.

Daphne Sullivan

Daphne is introduced, new to the series, as an easily amused, easy, breezy East-Coast elite woman. Although she hails from upper crust circles, she doesn’t appear as tightly wound and modest, and instead dons herself in light, floral pieces.

Be it her Riders Midi Dress by Zimmermann, or her Floral Blouse by Gucci X Ken Scott, Daphne’s wardrobe accurately reflects her personality, relaxed, bright and stylish.

Still, she slips in and out of other genres as well, dipping her toes in various styles depending on the occasion. In a dressy dinner look, for instance, she takes her vacation-mode florals to a new league with a Cutout Romper in Blue Topaz by Ramy Brook.

She also opts for a more casual, sophisticated outfit on a day around town with a Cropped Logo-plaque Denim Vest and matching Striped Pencil Skirt by Prada.

Harper Spiller

Daphne’s frenemy Harper, embodies in both style and personality, the antithesis of what Daphne is about. Harper contrasts Daphne’s coastal, holiday looks with vintage, classic, Audrey Hepburn inspired clothing. Although Harper technically comes from ‘new money’ on account of her husband’s sudden professional success, she certainly does not conform to nouveau riche dressing conventions

In fact, her style is quite the opposite, rarely ever sporting bright colours, prints or brands. In the first episode, Harper enters the yacht in a vintage skirt suit and yellow, logo-less Arco Bag in Mirabelle by Bottega Veneta.

Her inflexibility and self-righteousness come through in her dressing style as character whose neckline rarely ever dipped below her collarbone despite being on vacation at a beach, no less. Her outfits include a pale blue Vintage Moschino Cheap and Chic mini-dress, a Maissane Dress by Sandro, and a white Marin Mini Dress by My Beachy Side.

Portia

Finally, Portia, entirely reminiscent of the confused and existential Gen Z, both in personality and style. Although opinions on her fashion choices were a polarising topic when the series first released, it is no doubt that Portia is experimental and little messy.

Her experimentation though, is less artistic, and more lost, depicting her philandering sense of purpose and meaning in life. On the first day, she wears a Swan Lake Vest by House of Sunny that is bright green and blue, and cartoonish.

Then, after a bit of a lull in both her mood and subsequently her outfits, she bounces back with a colourful, striped knit shrug from Bolero covering a rather audacious zebra print bikini top, just in time to impress her newfound crush.

She also wears a mustard embellished Handkerchief dress by French Connection, one of her more elegant choices, that she ultimately styles with a pair of white sneakers, reaffirming her confused sense of style.

Her fashion does become more cohesive, however, especially on her little adventure in Palermo where she looks put-together and still fun in Losing My Favourite Game Bikini and Trousers, a swirly patterned bandeau top and pants by House Of Sunny.

The White Lotus is available to watch now on JioHotstar