My 48 hours in Bangkok

FASHION DESIGNER Linda Charoenlab is a Bangkok native and part of the city’s emerging vanguard of good-natured cool. She studied at the London College of Fashion before returning to Bangkok to work as a stylist for Wallpaper Thailand, as well as the Thai editions of Elle and other international magazines.

In 2009 she set up her label, Lalalove, and her colourful T-shirt dresses and animal-print shirts can now be found in boutiques worldwide. She also has a permanent concession at Topshop in London. She spends her time between Britain and Thailand’s steamy streets, where she flits between Bangkok’s boutiques and bars, sopping up inspiration for her label while raising her daughter, Lulu.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Charoenlab recommends flying into the city on Friday night and dropping your bags off at the hotel. “My favourite is Hotel Muse, a 174-room boutique hotel with lots of dark wood and large bedrooms with parquet floors and slipper baths.

“Once you’ve checked in, head up to the 24th floor to the bar, Speakeasy,” she says. “It’s a current favourite with Bangkok’s hard-sipping crowd.” Speakeasy has a terrace plus an outdoor lawn that takes up half of the 25th floor.

Alternatively, for a more lavish option, Charoenlab suggests Sofitel So Bangkok. “Christian Lacroix is the hotel’s creative director. He designed the staff uniforms, the mural in the club lounge and consulted on the furniture.” The 24th-floor restaurant, Park Society, is frequently cited as one of the best in Bangkok. “If you’re exhausted after the flight, spend the first evening there and order their carte blanche menu. The chef will prepare a bespoke meal for you. It’s effortless decadence.”