The rejection of formal wear is evident in our culture. Swapping out ultra skinny high-waisted denim for low rise baggy jeans was only the beginning.
Olivia Von Halle is somewhat of a pioneer in the realm of comfort-first luxury. First to the scene, she creates silk masterpiece pyjamas that can be worn to meetings and to bed.
With the approval from practically every A-lister under the sun – Zendaya, Oprah and Bella Hadid included – the deluxe loungewear brand is expanding its presence in the UAE and GCC.
Available now at Bloomingdale’s, GRAZIA got a chance to sit down with the British socialite and talk through her Middle East entrance. Touching on unrestrictive luxury and what constant celebs interaction translate to, we bring you a candid conversation with Olivia Von Halle herself.
@grazia_me Loved by @gigihadid, @Bella Hadid and more, designer @Olivia von Halle talks luxury loungerwear✨ #GraziaME #Dubai #Luxury #Fashion
♬ Chill and gentle lo-fi/10 minutes(1455687) – nightbird_bgm
Comfort & Luxury
From silk pyjamas to slip dresses, each Olivia Von Halle piece radiates a refined delicate elegance of its own.
Challenging the rules of formality, this deluxe sleepwear brand begs the question: why is glamour only reserved for our out-of-the-home endeavours? Why can’t we float around our personal spaces adorned in heavenly fabrics and luxurious silks?
“There’s something amazing about the transformational power of beautiful loungewear,” Olivia explains. “You can come home, after wearing something that’s quite constrictive, take that off and put on something beautiful, soft and silky.”
From intricate floral satin sets to floor-length halter nightdresses, Olivia Von Halle’s pieces seem to blend sophisticated evening wear with traditional loungewear. Elevating your homely attire to refined meticulously crafted pieces, you indulge in a sense of luxury, that only belongs to you.
“I think women want to step into something beautiful and glamorous, but also comfortable,” she explains. And each season she’s released reimagines that interaction with creativity and rebellion.
Dubai’s Impact
Born and raised in the UK, Olivia has managed to explore many pockets of the world. And while her travelling scope has come to a slower speed, with her family and brand grounding her to London, Dubai remains a city that keeps pulling her back.
“It feels like a land of opportunity,” she smiles, as her newest collection whirls around her at Dubai Mall’s Bloomingdale’s. “I lived in Shanghai in 2008, and I feel the same sense of possibility here,” she continues. From Harrods to Selfridges to Net-A-Porter, the Olivia Von Halle collections have reached most corners of the world. And yet, the in-person arrival of her masterful silk ensembles gives Dubai shoppers an entirely different feel.
From the inspiring colour palettes to gloss-like silk, to actually touch, feel and twirl in these pieces in-store, gives Dubai shoppers a different gateway to the world of deluxe sleepwear. One that online-shopping hasn’t quite mastered yet.
And being engulfed in luxury and beauty is something that comes quickly to the Middle Eastern women. “One of the things I love about Dubai women is how glamorous they are,” she says. “It’s incredible. I find them so inspiring, so beautiful. And the pieces that we make speak to that glamour.”
Whether you’re sipping gin and tonics from your high-rise apartment, or want to emulate the allure of Coco Chanel, the Oliva Von Halle artisanal pieces emulate a sense of royal softness and luxury that every Dubai woman would understand.
Celeb Longevity
While some felt the lows of the pandemic in heavy ways, most businesses across industries agreeably didn’t see their best days during those seasons.
But for a sleepwear brand that radiates flair and style, in a time where living in your pyjamas was the only option, it was an organic turning point. “I would have rather the pandemic not have happened at all,” Olivia begins. “But we were very lucky, we were really well placed.”
And it wasn’t only the increase of pyjama-wearing, it was also looking into people’s homes, as events turned remote. “For example, we had Angelina Jolie go to premiere in her bed with her dog in our pyjamas,” Olivia recalls. Garnering a massive buzz on socials, what ensued was even more eyes on the OVH brand, yet again elevating its platform.
From Victoria Beckham to Selena Gomez, the range of celebrities that have engaged since the Jolie-stamp of approval and well before that has remained long and winding. But what Olivia prioritises is longevity, over fleeting buzz.
“What really excites me is when I see people wearing things again and again,” she explains. “Celebrities have limitless access to beautiful clothes. But when I see Gigi Hadid wearing our tracksuits on the streets, month after month, that’s when I feel like I’ve created a product that has real integrity.”
