WE, AND OLIVIA VON HALLE HAVE SPECIAL WAYS TO MAKE YOU TRAVEL BACK IN STYLE WITH ART NOUVEAU’S CURVES AND ART DECO’S SLEEK EDGE.

For Resort 2025, Olivia von Halle immerses us in the romance and luxury of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, blending the organic forms of one with the bold modernity of the other. Inspired by Jules Cheret lithographs, 1930s Vogue illustrations, and vivid Ballets Russes posters, the collection bursts with rich jewel tones, moody glamour, and 61 pieces meant for decadent lounging. Opulent screen prints lead the season, with the Colette print celebrating liberated 1920s women, while the Ruhlmann and Ruspoli bring sharp Art Deco lines to signature silks. Not to be missed, Olivia’s iconic zebra returns in the Alba and Lila sets, alongside a new silhouette, the Bliss, featuring a low-back V-neck and sleek, straight-leg trousers in luxe 19-momme silk.

BURO wanted to dive deeper into her creative world, so we had a little chit-chat with her!

YOUR MOOD BOARD SOUNDS LIKE A CREATIVE WONDERLAND! IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WITH ANY OF THE ARTISTIC ICONS YOU MENTIONED, WHO WOULD YOU INVITE, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING?

I would ideally love to have them all, what a fun and inspiring crowd that would be! If I had to pick just one it would probably be Jules Chéret, one of the main artists that inspired this Resort collection. I’d love to hear him talk about the glamorous Parisian nightlife at the time and what inspired his iconic Ballet Russes posters, with all their lively colours and exuberant energy that still feels contagious to these days. 

YOU MENTIONED A VARIETY OF SOURCES FOR YOUR MOODBOARD, INCLUDING JULES CHERET AND 1930S VOGUE ILLUSTRATIONS. HOW DO YOU SELECT WHICH ELEMENTS FROM THESE INSPIRATIONS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR COLLECTIONS?

The research process is obviously the very first step of developing a collection and I usually begin from one element that has been inspiring me over that particular period and then go deeper into the development of the theme, until we’ve built out a whole world. I am very open in this process and just let myself get inspired by all sorts of things whilst researching – in this case I was definitely attracted by the rich colours of some of the artworks of that era, its luxurious glamour and opulence with no expense spared. I think this is definitely something that you can then see translated and reinterpreted in the collection’s colour palette and decadent prints. 

WHAT CRITERIA DO YOU USE WHEN SELECTING FABRICS, AND HOW DO THEY ENHANCE THE OVERALL DESIGN AND FEEL OF YOUR PIECES?

When it comes to fabric selection, I’m completely uncompromising on the quality and only use the absolute best, considering every detail meticulously. Our best-selling fabric is 19-momme silk which has the most incredible drape and lustre. It is much weightier than many other silks on the market today and rarely used due to its expense, but it’s what makes our pieces recognisably Olivia von Halle and what sets us apart from competitors.

PICTURE THIS: SOMEONE PUTS ON ONE OF YOUR PIECES AND INSTANTLY TRANSFORMS INTO A CHARACTER. WHAT KIND OF CHARACTER DO YOU HOPE THEY BECOME, AND WHAT FABULOUS ESCAPADES AWAIT THEM?

In my mind they become an absolutely fabulous and opulent character from a totally different era, navigating the world’s most exciting circles with effortless devil-may-care attitude. I like to think someone like Diana Vreeland would be the perfect examples for this. Perhaps she boards the Orient Express, brushing shoulders with artists, aristocrats and rebels, having a fabulous time and being the life and soul of the party.

WHAT FUELS YOUR IMAGINATION?

To be honest, literally anything and everything! Music, books, movies and print or literary archives, but most of all I’m captivated by other people – icons from another era and the fabulous lives they lived or even friends at a party, strangers in the streets.

ALSO READ: 6 LEBANESE FASHION DESIGNERS INSPIRING US AND A NEW ERA OF STYLE.