For a look at the state of street fashion in Bangkok, see our photo essay.
 

Jongkol Tangpradit, ELLE Fashion Editor

What’s your definition of street fashion?
Individual character and style expressed through clothes. The difference between traditional fashion and street fashion is that street has less limitations. It’s what people pick to wear for their daily lives.
How does Thai street fashion differ from elsewhere?
I think most Thais wear similar things, and that makes street fashion a bit dull. Thais tend to copy what they see in the media or what’s being worn by celebrities. In other countries, like Japan, people express themselves differently. If you walk down the street in Japan, you see people dressing in their own unique styles. Still, Thai teenagers these days are getting more daring in the way they dress. We can see more people who know how to mix and match, and there are signs of some unique styles developing. Thanks to online media, Thai fashion is getting more fun as cultural barriers are lowered.
Do you have any tips for getting a street look?
Just know yourself, who you are, and what your style is. Sticking to your own style doesn’t mean wearing the same clothes because that would be too boring and repetitive. What you do is adapt new trends with your own style. For instance, top up your cute secondhand dress with a designer pair of shoes.

Pipat Kim, Central Personal Shopper

What’s your definition of street fashion?
On the runways, there is haute couture, and ready-to-wear, which are created by designers. On the street, it’s all about what people pick themselves and wear for their daily lives.
How does Thai Street Fashion differ from elsewhere?
Thailand has some limitations due to the weather. In other countries, there are seasons. Here, there’s really only one season, so we have fewer opportunities to play with layering. Also Thai people like to stick to the same trend for a while. For instance, maxi dresses. Usually in other countries, by the end of a season, people tend to move on to the next trend. But, Thais have a blurry of picture of seasonal changes, so it takes longer for them to realize a trend is out.
Do you have any tips for getting a street look?
I personally like layering to create something unique. However, it can be difficult here because of the weather. So go for thin cotton fabrics. Street fashion’s all about mixing and matching.

Jean-Baptiste Andreani, Academic Directork, Raffles International College

What’s your definition of street fashion?
It’s the people’s fashion. Normally, fashion comes from the catwalk and then spreads down to the masses. So people adapt what they see from the catwalk. Street fashion is the opposite. A person sitting on the balcony of a café can be the designer. They are inspired by what passers-by are wearing instead of watching what’s presented on the catwalk. To me, street fashion’s like an individual’s picking power. I think it’s so much more spontaneous, and is based on the ability to mix and match.
How does Street Fashion in Thailand differ from elsewhere?
Thai street fashion’s very interesting. When people ask me how’s Bangkok, I answer, “It’s creative chaos.” A mix between modern infrastructure and more traditional elements.  When I walk around Siam Square I can see people wearing a lot of different patterns, colorful outfits—and that’s quite daring. Thai street fashion is representative of that. I would say that the main influence of Thai street fashion is Korea, followed by Japan. We will get to see more and more influences from Korea, actually. The typical thing about fashion in Thailand is the social collectivism culture. As soon as someone picks up a trend, it spreads very fast to the rest of the population. I’m not sure if we’ll see Thai street fashion’s unique identity any time soon. When we look at how Thai designers produce, we see good designs, good materials, but they are still influenced by the west.
Do you have any tips for what makes a good street look?
The craziest combination is always the best for me. I love to see women that wear an old pair of jeans, with a very expensive handbag. My tip would be, don’t look at Style.com, don’t look at Vogue, don’t look at the runways. Instead, look into your closet, see what you have, and pick the items by yourself. Be spontaneous. Fashion reflects who you are and what you believe.