How Olivia von Halle reinvented loungewear for modern women
The London-based designer’s sumptuous vision of loungewear has captivated the industry since its inception and become the go-to off-duty uniform for fashion’s most influential insiders
Over the past year and a half, the pandemic has fundamentally altered every facet of modern life – including the way we shop and dress. Sartorially speaking, the concepts of athleisure and loungewear have taken on a new urgency and this shift saw designers scramble to create more laid-back pieces with an emphasis on comfort, as well as aesthetics. However, one designer who was already getting that delicate balance just right was London-based Olivia von Halle.
Beloved by the most influential fashion insiders, von Halle’s sumptuous silk pajamas and robes have long been considered the ultimate in off-duty luxe. However, when von Halle founded her eponymous label almost ten years ago, loungewear was still an overlooked category of many women’s wardrobes. It’s no exaggeration to say that her plush reimagining of at-home pieces redefined an entire category of women’s closets. Inspired by a gap that she had spotted in her own wardrobe, von Halle set out to create louche separates that could be worn as nightwear or styled up for an evening out. Flash forward to today and the brand is a firm favorite of arbiters of taste including Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and both Gigi and Bella Hadid.
“A silk pajama shirt makes the perfect accompaniment to blue denim, while the pants can be worn with oversized knitwear
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This season, as ever, von Halle’s luxuriant, colorful and rich prints were designed in-house at her London atelier and draw upon inspirations as varied as the cosmos, natural world and Ancient Egypt. Whether you’re drawn to a silk pajama set festooned with Sphynx cats and mother-of-pearl buttons, a zodiac-print robe or a dark floral alternative, these pieces can, of course, elevate a low-key look, but – styled correctly – they also boast endless mileage. A silk pajama shirt makes the perfect accompaniment to blue denim, while the pants can be worn with oversized knitwear. Elsewhere, a little black dress can be transformed by belting a silk robe over the top. The true allure of Olivia von Halle’s collections is the endless versatility of her distinctive designs. while their inherent effortlessness means you’re guaranteed to be the chicest woman in the room.
If the past year has taught us anything in terms of fashion, it’s that we should prioritize pieces that are as practical as they are polished and, crucially, make us feel fabulous. It’s exactly this sartorial alchemy that has made Olivia von Halle’s one-of-a-kind designs a must-have addition to any wardrobe.