Thirathep ‘Ricky’ Sethi isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd with his hip-hop inspired sartorial selections.
By Christy Lau
As the owner of The Bangkok Circus, a hostel located in Sukhumvit Soi 31, 22-year-old Thirathep ‘Ricky’ Sethi is constantly meeting guests from all over the world. Outgoing and sociable by nature, his personality is best reflected by his wardrobe, which features colourful fabrics, oversized T-shirts and tapered jeans. “I was inspired by the college lifestyle when I moved to the U.S. after high school graduation,” he explains. “I’m a big fan of Trap Culture and love the way people like Kanye West, Drake and LeBron James dress.”
You’ll rarely catch this stylish It Guy less than meticulously put together. While his outfits exude the sophistication of designer wear, you’ll be surprised to know that Ricky isn’t a huge brand follower. “I shop a lot, but not necessarily at expensive stores. I love the more local markets too, particularly Chatuchak Weekend Market,” he says. “I basically buy whatever catches my eye.”
However, his all-time favourite has to be Zara, especially their footwear. After all, he owns more than five pairs of Zara shoes. “They also stock new clothes every two weeks,” he says with a smile. “My fashion taste changes very quickly, so that’s perfect for me!”
Although he stays up-to-date on the latest trends, Ricky places great priority on comfort as well. Hawaiian shirts are one of his everyday essentials, and they even help with his work, lending him a friendly and approachable aura — a must for someone in the hospitality industry.
As for his fashion advice, it’s completely in line with his personality. “Take more risks,” he says. “Buy clothes that fi t your character. Fashion is all about how you portray yourself to the people around you. Your clothes create an impression which tells someone what kind of person you are, so make sure you wear something that has you feeling like you’re ready to take on the world.”
It’s great that someone so young has such confidence in himself, especially as his dress sense has gotten quite a number of raised eyebrows in society, and elicited plenty of feedback, both positive and negative. “I get comments all the time from my peers praising my outfits. At the same time, older people hate the way I dress, because I often wear ripped jeans. I don’t really care what they think. I dress to express myself, and when you have confidence, you can pull off any look.” We agree wholeheartedly — you keep doing you, Ricky!
