How to nail holiday style, according to De La Vali
It’s about balancing the look so that it’s a little bit sexy but you can’t see anything.” Sacha Haveman, De La Vali co-founder
What is “easy” holiday style? Jana Sacha Haveman and Laura Castro, founders of the new Ibizan fashion brand De La Vali, are aiming to demystify the sartorial concept for everyone; it’s as simple as a gorgeous floaty dress and flat sandals.
Kate Moss, Alice Dellal, Clara Paget and Lily Donaldson have all declared themselves to be “Vali girls” since the label launched last year, discovering the relaxed bohemian brand via word-of-mouth on the White Isle, as well as on Instagram and in fashion boutique Browns, its new London home.
Here, we get the De La Vali guide to Balearic style, as well as tips on how to pull off effortless elegance anywhere else in the world ...
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Invest in a hero maxi dress: The Apolonia, the Oswalda and the Jolene are among De La Vali’s bestsellers and are the embodiment of the peaceful lifestyle associated with their birthplace. “These are simply easy summer dresses,” Haveman says. “You don’t need to worry about what top goes with what skirt, you just throw it on and you look like you’ve made an effort. You’re good to go anywhere.”
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Don’t see clothes as ‘for day’ or ‘for night’: “Pack things that are versatile,” Haveman advises. “You want to take something that you can wear with espadrilles to the beach today, or sandals to dinner tomorrow. That’s the thing to do in Ibiza. I want clothes that I can wear all day every day and just change the accessories.”
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Consider prints or cuts that you wouldn’t at home: “It’s good to try things that might not be like you can get at home,” she says. “What the brand offers is a taste of this laidback, carefree, lifestyle where you just throw on this dress and look amazing. That’s why you go on holiday in the first place, I think, it’s to get that feeling.”
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Don’t be afraid to show some skin: “Women don’t want to be wearing a belt as a skirt; Ibizadressing now is about looking womanly and lovely without looking naked or tacky,” Haveman says. “Now there’s a new bohemian feeling, but it’s sophisticated. We do some of our to-the-floor dresses in semi-sheer materials, and some in solid, so you’ve got that choice. It’s about balancing the look so that it’s a little bit sexy but you can’t see anything.”
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Don’t leave it on holiday: There’s no need, she says, to abandon your favourite holiday wares in a suitcase at the back of the wardrobe until next year. “The winter collections come out in August, everything is at a different pace, it’s much more timeless and seasonless. You can wear your long floral dress with tights and boots and a long coat and it’s a completely different, but still quite bohemian vibe for winter.”
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Remember, your style is exotic to someone: As someone who grew up on the island, Haveman says that the British women who would arrive in Ibiza each summer always had exciting style to her — despite our own misconceptions that “Brits abroad” are never chic. “It’s a tiny island, so I used to look at these Brit girls and think ‘wow that’s something new and fun’,” she laughs. Now she has a whole pack of the British fashion’s coolest exports on speed dial. “All of these people have become my friends as well as clients,” she adds. “It’s amazing how it has flowed so well. They all have natural and personal style.”