Discover Haney’s rules for sexy, California glamour

“Modern glamour is about feeling both sexy and comfortable,” says Mary Alice Haney, a former fashion editor and stylist who founded her eponymous label in 2013. “Women are so busy these days; they want to be able to pull something out of their closet and know they look incredible when they wear it. I have five children and run my company. Most nights, I don’t have time to think about what I’m wearing when I go out; I need effortless dresses and jumpsuits in my wardrobe that will make me look and feel amazing.”

The locally produced LA-based brand is a favorite with actresses including Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington thanks to its body-skimming, beautifully tailored shapes and laid-back, easy attitude. It’s not just about making you look good, either. With its emphasis on attainable luxury, Haney is a brand for women, by women. Whether you’re looking for a piece that skims over the bits you’d rather hide or one that makes an impact on Instagram, Haney’s elegant body-con dresses are ultra-versatile, designed to be dressed up or down as the occasion demands and to be folded into a carry-on and pulled out crease-free and ready to wear. “Clothes can’t be high maintenance or too precious,” says Haney. And, thanks to years spent dressing some of the world’s most stylish women, the designer has an expert knack when it comes to making you look good, whether she’s layering the silk in her dresses to ensure that it creates a flawless silhouette, or precisely cutting the sleeves and hems of her pieces to make sure they hit the most flattering spot.

“My years as a fashion editor and stylist helped define my mission as a designer,” she says. “I've been privileged to work with a diverse clientele and I learned to really understand bodies of all shapes and sizes. This knowledge is invaluable when I’m deciding where to end a sleeve, place a cut-out or adjust a hem. I make sure that these details hit a woman's body at the perfect place.”

The label’s aesthetic is heavily influenced by Los Angeles, the city that Haney has called home for the past 24 years and where all of Haney’s collections are produced in female-owned factories. It’s not her only touchstone, though. When it comes to inspiration, Haney looks to enduring style icons like Sophia Loren and ’60s German supermodel Veruschka. For SS18, however, the collection is inspired by iconic movie Valley of the Dolls, from its bold, elegant cocktail dresses to the high-impact lamé separates, and the way its leading ladies wear their clothes as armor. It’s a fitting starting point. Haney wants her clothes to make you feel strong and confident – whatever your age, shape or size. “Modern glamour is not precious,” she says. “It’s attainable for every woman.”