GRAZIA Singapore’s March 2024 Cover Star Tontawan Tantivejakul is many things: actress, model, aspiring dentist (in case you didn’t know, Tontawan is currently pursuing her degree in dentistry). But in our eyes, Tu Tontawan—as she’s affectionately known—is, first and foremost, a style icon on the rise. At the tender age of 23, the multihyphenate who hails from Bangkok is already a global ambassador for Dior’s fashion and jewellery lines in Thailand.
For those unfamiliar, Tontawan’s acting career initially began in 2020 when she appeared in the music video for Thai singer Ink Waruntorn Paonil’s song Disappointed. But it wasn’t until the next year that her meteoric rise to international stardom began. After signing with Thai management label GMMTV, Tontawan took on the leading role of Gorya in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers, the Thai remake of the manga-turned-anime Hana Yori Dango, in 2021 that shot her to fame.
Since then, the young actress and model has captured the hearts of many from the Southeast Asian region and beyond with her natural elegance and charm. Below, we take a deep dive into some of Tontawan’s best moments of personal style, and how her huge handbag collection works to enhance her best looks.
Tontawan might have just been a bright-eyed 19-year-old when she first came onto the scene, but now at 23, she’s fully embracing her allure as a young woman. Armed with her Diorstar Hobo, Tontawan shows us just how her youthful energy can transform into a mature aura at the flip of a switch, with the crinkled calfskin leather working to keep the outfit chic and balanced.
As Thailand’s fashion princess, Tontawan has visited the City of Love countless times but what’s a trip to Paris without a visit to the Eiffel Tower? For a night-time gleam at the glittering tower, Tontawan went for an edgier look and paired her romantic powder pink top with her Dior Hobo bag to turn up the chic factor during Fashion Week last September.
The best fashion girlies are the ones who know how to get the most wear out of their pieces, and Tontawan is no exception. With the same black Hobo bag, Tontawan took to her Instagram to show how she keeps things playful with colour-blocking and an oversized silhouette.
As with creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s tenure at Dior so far, Tontawan is always channelling femininity in her looks. This classic Dior-coded look of a clean white button-up and Dior gray skirt is giving office siren, no, office doe, and we’re here for it. Plus, you can play with proportions by adding a mini shoulder bag. Tontawan chose a Blue Dior Oblique Jacquard Dior CD Signature bag to spice up the outfit.
When in Paris, do as the Parisians do. One of our favourite moments of Tontawan’s Fashion-Week style is this striped cardigan-and-tank-top set. The classic navy and white stripes, and the Lady D-Sire My ABCDior, when styled with Tontawan’s signature black locks, reflects her penchant for timeless outfits.
But that doesn’t mean that Tontawan can’t rock viral Gen-Z aesthetics. This spring, Tontawan swapped out her usual feminine numbers for a soft, earthy look that blended cottage core with Y2K detailing. With arguably the most recognisable bag from Dior—the Saddle—on her shoulder, the actress showed off her effortless day-to-day style.
Another time her personal style had us swooning was when the star was back in Thailand earlier this year. Decked in a flowy white skirt and peachy long-line blouse, Tontawan added a sense of extravagance and flair with a romantic, botanical Dior Lady D-Lite bag and matching sneakers.
Tontawan is no stranger to street style either. On a recent street-food run, the star opted for a monochromatic, military green look that she completed with a woven bucket hat. No accessory, detail or nuance is too small to go unnoticed in the world of fashion, so she chose to tie in the look with blue Adidas Gazelles and a small blue Dior Oblique coin purse.
Tontawan’s got vacation style down pat. On a recent trip to Japan, the actress leaned into the oversized vibe, by donning a cute graphic t-shirt paired with vintage denim and a brown leather jacket. Then she finished it with a slouchy suede shoulder bag. Whether it’s mixing different fabrics and layering textures, Tontawan illustrates the beauty of ‘more is more’.
On a quick break between her work and school schedules in Thailand, Tontawan posted this adorable fit on her Instagram account. We’re not sure what we love more: the Dior Lady juxtaposed with such a Gen-Z-tuned fit or the little Kuromi plushie hanging from it (in case you didn’t know, Tontawan is a dedicated Kuromi fan).
Standing amongst the flowers, Tontawan is giving baby girl energy. Shining in this all-white summery fit, the F4 Thailand star opted for a sweet baby pink Lady D-Joy bag to accessorise and add a pop of fun to her refined getup.
Tontawan proves that she’s a style savant by transforming her vibe yet again. This time, the actress paired her white and cream snow-princess outfit with a more adventurous bag choice: the C’est Dior bag slung across her body. Again, we’re learning that the key to Tontawan’s style is all about introducing different textures and layers for more unique looks.