They say you should never scrimp on something that stands between you and the ground – decent shoes, a top of the line mattress, the best-you-can-afford flooring. Considering how much time we spend horizontal, we would count pyjamas as one of these pieces worth splashing out on, and with the arrival of UK designer Olivia von Halle’s line of luxury PJs to Faradays, picking up a pair just got that much easier.
Hello, Olivia! We are so excited to finally be able to shop Olivia von Halle in store at Faradays. How did your relationship with Faradays begin and what made it really flourish?
For us, it’s super important to partner with retailers who share our passion for luxury and have the same meticulous attention to detail. When Faradays approached us to be our first-ever New Zealand stockist, we knew it was match made in heaven.
Briefly, what is the Olivia von Halle origin story? What were you doing beforehand and what empowered you to move forward with your dream of designing luxury sleepwear?
When I decided to launch OvH, I was living in Shanghai with my husband and working as a trend forecaster and brand consultant. China has this incredible history of silk-making and I started having silk pyjamas custom-made by a tailor that I’d wear when we were hosting friends for dinner or afterparties at our apartment. When I came back to the UK to visit, my friends kept inquiring about my pyjamas and so I started having them made for them too. Eventually I realised I might just be onto something, so I moved back to London, launched the brand and the rest is history!
Your pyjama sets are the absolute epitome of luxe lounging. What was it about this very niche market category that you thought you could bring something new and special to?
When we launched back in 2011, luxury loungewear wasn’t really a category in itself. It felt like there was a space to create beautiful pyjamas and robes that felt as elevated and glamorous as whatever you’d just slipped out of. A lot of our references nod to the past, so we’ve done collections inspired by the Roaring 20s, the café society of the 1950s and then our current Giardino collection is all about the laidback splendour of the Italian Riviera in the 1970s and the photography of Slim Aarons. I loved the idea of reinterpreting bygone glamour for the modern age.
Unlike many other luxury sleepwear offerings, Olivia von Halle is known for its bold use of colour and exciting prints. Basically you pop on a pair and feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re just moseying around the house. In a world obsessed with neutrals, what moved you in this more playful direction?
One of our brand mottos is ‘why be dull?’. I’m a big believer in the power of colour and print to elevate your mood – whether it’s on your walls or in your wardrobe – and I wanted to create pieces that felt joyful while at the same time incredibly luxe. I dare you to slip into a decadent silk-satin robe that’s screen-printed with leopards and not feel utterly fabulous!
Is your own wardrobe awash with colour and prints, or are you a minimalist in the streets, and a maximalist in the sheets? If so, why/why not?
I’d say refined maximalist. I adore colour and print, but I still like to feel glamorous and grown up. When I’m not in Olivia von Halle, you’ll probably find me in a vibrant maxi dress by The Vampire’s Wife or Alessandra Rich (two of my all-time favourite designers).
Of course, your pieces can and should see the light of day, with many of your fans and followers mixing and matching their favourite Olivia von Halle pieces with other wardrobe staples for daytime. Is this something you do and encourage? What’s your go-to combo?
Yes, absolutely! So of course, we have our OvH silk slip dresses, which were made with exactly that in mind. You can wear them in the day, maybe throw a mohair jumper over the top, but then also to a cocktail party with high heels, and obviously as nightwear too. They’re super versatile. But then I also love seeing all the creative ways that women wear our other pieces – the racerback Bella camisole with tailoring, for example.
Talk to us about some of the other parts of the OvH offering we don’t hear as much about… if we’ve started with a pair of pyjamas, where should we head next?
Pyjamas are only the beginning! I’d say the next step would be one of our dreamy kimono-inspired robes – you can go matching or you even mix prints. Or if you’re looking for something you can wear on an evening out, then I’d go for a slip dress – I love the rock-n-roll chain straps on our Bibi. And then last year we launched our Contessa slippers, which means you can now have a full head-to-toe OvH outfit.
Your garments are said to “obey the logic of luxury, using only the world’s highest grade of silks, cottons and velvet cloths, hand-applied screen-prints and artisan embroidery techniques.” Could you please speak a bit more about the design process and how your fabrics are sourced and the hands involved in bringing together the finished product?
All our prints start as hand drawings by our super talented design team in our London studio (if you visit our TikTok, you can discover all the behind the scenes) before being transformed into screen prints that are applied to our silks. To me, luxury is first and foremost about exquisite fabric and we only use the finest. When I was living in Shanghai, I discovered China’s rich silk-making traditions that date back thousands of years and so I knew we’d find the very best suppliers in the world there. And all our silks are made and dyed exclusively for us to our exact specifications. Then, when it came to creating our first ever slippers, I knew we had to go Italian! My cousin who’s a shoemaker put me in touch with a fourth-generation family-run factory in Tuscany, so all of our Contessas are handcrafted there.
What are your favourite pieces from your current collection available at Faradays?
Ah, so hard to choose! The Lila pyjama with our signature zebra motif is an OvH classic, so if you’re ever stuck for choice I’d always say start there. I’m absolutely obsessed with the Luxo print, which is a playful leopard motif on 19-momme silk. And our Contessa slipper with the over-the-top ostrich feather pom-pom is one of my highlights too.
What are three words that hint to your next collection?
Opulent, otherworldly, theatrical!
If you could host a no-expense-spared pyjama party with six guests – living or dead – who would they be, what’s the location, what would you serve, what’s the general vibe, and what piece(s) would you yourself wear?
I love this question! So, my number one ALL TIME style icon is the fashion editor Isabella Blow. She would be guest of honour. Coco Chanel is a huge inspiration behind the brand, and I’d love to pick her brain. Then my great grandmother, Gladys, who was a flapper in the 1920s and no doubt would have a million crazy stories. Rihanna, of course – who wouldn’t love Rihanna at their party. My husband, Hugo. And my best friend Alice, who is always the life and soul of the party. For dinner, I’d probably order in something in from Chiltern Firehouse, one of my favourite London restaurants, so I don’t have to stress and can enjoy spending time with my guests! And I’d wear our Queenie Cato crepe de chine robe with the matching Casablanca pyjama underneath, a pair of Contessa slippers and finish off with statement jewellery.
What are your nighttime non-negotiables?
Other than a pair of OvH pyjamas? I’m very religious about my skincare, so my cleanser and Skinesis moisturizer are non-negotiable. Even after a raucous night out, I never go to bed without doing my routine. And when I find the time, I love nothing more than an indulgent bath with a Olverum bath oil, a candle, a G&T and a page-turner.
What are your morning non-negotiables?
Earl Grey tea! Very English of me.
What’s the best thing about designing luxury sleepwear?
Honestly, I love every bit of it, from researching and dreaming up the new collections with my team to seeing all these fabulous women I admire wearing our pieces. I have the best job in the world.
