Australian fashion labels take centre stage in The White Lotus’ most stylish season yet

In season three of The White Lotus, fashion has been as integral to the storytelling as the palm trees and poolside intrigue.

Set in a luxurious Thai wellness resort, the HBO hit brings together an all-star cast – Parker Posey, Aimee Lou Wood, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, and more – for another sun-drenched descent into class, power, and now, wardrobe envy.

But this time, it’s Australian designers Alemais and Zimmermann who are making the loudest (and most stylish) statements.

Costume designer Alex Bovaird, known for using clothing to reveal subtle character dynamics, chose to include a number of standout pieces from Australian labels.

Speaking to Vogue Australia, she revealed that selections came from a mix of global luxury brands, vintage markets, and emerging designers, alongside pieces picked up in Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market.

‘I think people, when they go to Thailand, they’re imagining a slightly more exotic life, and so maybe they’re buying more flamboyant clothes,’ said Bovaird.

‘Especially when they stay somewhere like The White Lotus. You’ve gone all out, so you’re not going to just go down to the pool in the hotel robe. You might have packed something just for the occasion.’

Alemais, the Sydney-based label known for its vibrant prints and artist collaborations, is front and centre in several key looks.

Michelle Monaghan’s character Jaclyn Lemon makes her entrance in the Alemais Silas mini halter dress ($365), a bold yellow number with vivid florals, pink edging and statement cut-outs.

It sets the tone for Jaclyn’s ‘A-lister on holiday’ aesthetic – and she pairs it with a Valentino handbag and Chanel wedges.

Her wardrobe, like her attitude, is unapologetically attention-seeking – and also boasts other high-end buys like Loewe sunglasses and a Bottega beach tote.

Leslie Bibb, as socialite Kate, brings day-dressing flair to the screen in the Alemais Yvette cut-out mini dress ($395), swirling with colours and fastened with a gold ring at the bodice.

It’s the kind of playful, mid-holiday look that feels equal parts market stroll and beach club flirtation.

Later, she swaps into the label’s Venus shirt ($740), a silk twill masterpiece with dropped shoulders and concealed buttons – what Alemais calls ‘wearable art’.

Queen of eccentric chic Parker Posey also gets the Alemais treatment in the Everly pool dress ($495), a breezy chequered number with balloon sleeves and kaleidoscopic florals.

It’s the ultimate lounging-luxury look, effortless yet deliberate, tied at the cuff with Alemais’ signature whimsy.

Meanwhile, Carrie Coon showcases Zimmermann’s Resort Swim 2024 collection in two key moments.

As high-powered New York lawyer Laurie, she first appears in the Alight Picnic dress ($795), a structured linen midi with nautical map prints and grosgrain waist detailing.

Later, she lounges in the mustard-yellow August belted swimsuit – complete with chain-link accents and gold-tone hardware – a flash of opulence by the pool.

One of the season’s most poignant moments comes courtesy of Sarah Catherine Hook, who wears the Zimmermann cut-out paisley-print halterneck dress ($1,316) in papaya, as she announces her plans to leave her life of luxury behind and study Buddhism.

Bovaird uses the linen silhouette – with tasselled ties, cut-outs, and front slit pockets – to mirror her yearning for transformation, meanwhile also hinting at the character’s final decision using the dress’s eye-watering price tag.

If The White Lotus has always used its locations to reflect inner conflict, this season allows the wardrobe to do the same.

Every fabric, hemline, and accessory speaks volumes about status, envy, reinvention, and the roles people try on when they think no one is watching.

That two Australian brands have played such a central role in this season’s visual storytelling is no coincidence.

Alemais, founded in 2021, champions sustainability and artisan collaboration, creating ‘classical silhouettes with a contemporary lens.’

Zimmermann, long a fixture on international runways, continues to embody sun-drenched sophistication with its fusion of structure and softness.

Bovaird’s costume curation isn’t simply about aesthetics – it’s about narrative depth.

And in The White Lotus’ world of spiritual retreats and psychological unravelling, there is no better vehicle than fashion to peel back the layers.