Olivia Palermo's style transformation and the sartorial rules she lives by

Fashion


Olivia Palermo's style transformation and the sartorial rules she lives by

By Stylist Team

9 years ago

Olivia Palermo first caught our attention when she appeared in The Hills spin-off TV show The City, which trailed the life of Lauren Conrad's friend Whitney Port in the Big Apple. 

Back then the budding fashionista and socialite, now 30 years old, was working in the PR department of Diane Von Furstenburg before bagging a job on Elle magazine's accessories section.

Since then she's been signed as a model, worked as a brand ambassador for various fashion labels and even launched her own digital fashion empire, complete with outfit inspiration, beauty tips and even a shop.

Clearly, when it comes to clothes, this woman knows what she's talking about.

And it's because of these stellar sartorial credentials that we were compelled to look back at her style file and root out the looks that she keeps returning to. So without further ado, behold the fashion rules of Olivia Palermo's wardrobe. We'll be reciting them to ourselves daily. 

The Early Years

While we might know Olivia Palermo as a bona fide fashionista there are, of course, the years before she really found her true grown-up style.

This look of Olivia's from 2007, when she attended a film screening in New York, was a clear indicator for what was to come. 


The Early Years

This was an early indication of the classic Olivia style of immaculate hair and make-up with a bold colour and belt. 


The Early Years

A darker look for Olivia in 2007 as she opted for a black and metallic mini dress for a Calvin Klein party in New York.


The Early Years

Our first real look at Olivia on the red carpet. The star wore Valentino to attend the Villa Borghese Gallery dinner celebrating 45 Years of Valentino in Rome.


The Early Years

At the premiere of Atonement in 2007, Olivia opted for a flowing blouse, chunky belt, shorts and black tights. 


Block colours

A classic look of Olivia's is opting for a bright, bold colour.

Here she is in 2013 wearing a Katie Ermilio dress at an event in New York.


Block colours

Another bold gown. This time it's from Max Azaria and Olivia's attending the 11th Edition of Convivio in Fieramilanocity, Milan.


Block colours

Olivia is also known for wearing the most up-to-date and interesting designers, such as Victoria Beckham. Here she is at a film screening in New York in 2011.


Block colours

At the Valentino show, Spring/Summer 2015, Paris Fashion Week rocking another great block colour outfit. 


Denim

Any true fashion lover is happy to don a spot of denim from time to time.

Here's Olivia at fashion week at the Peter Som Show in February 2012. 

 


Denim

This has got to be one of our all-time favourite looks. Olivia wore this white silk blouse with a pair of bell bottom jeans in December 2014, as a classically chic and sophisticated take on the perfect date night outfit. 


Denim

Another white top and jeans combo for Olivia here in December 2014.


Denim

It's double denim time. Olivia paired a denim shirt with a darker denim skirt to attend the Rebecca Minkoff show at New York Fashion Week in September 2014.


Denim

This was clearly one of her go-to looks of 2014: a white top paired with denim trousers. But here, she's changed it up by throwing a chic biker jacket over her shoulders. 


Clutch bags

When she's onto a good thing the star sticks to it.

Clutch bags are the perfect example.


Clutch bags

This bag, which she wore to the Lipstick Jungle TV Series Season 2 Celebration Party in New York, is classic Olivia.


Clutch bags

Another great clutch is this off-white version which she wore to the Whitney Museum's Art Party and Auction in 2009, to accessorise another white top and blue jeans pairing.


Clutch bags

A bolder colour bag was in order for this outing in Miami in 2009.


Show-stopping red carpet gowns

Another fashion string to her sartorial bow is her choice of red carpet attire.

At 2014's British Fashion Awards she wore this Emilia Wickstead gown (complete with cool clutch, natch).


Show-stopping red carpet gowns

As far back in 2008, at the 5th Annual Operation Smile Benefit Gala in New York, Olivia wowed us with this Grecian style satin gown. 


Show-stopping red carpet gowns

Another knock-out dress from Olivia which she wore to the White Fairy Tale Love Ball in Paris in 2011. As for the designer, it's Valentino, of course. 


Show-stopping red carpet gowns

In Roberto Cavalli at the amfAR Cinema Against Aids 2013 Gala, 66th Cannes Film Festival, France.


Show-stopping red carpet gowns

In another stunning Roberto Cavalli gown at The Immigrant film premiere, 66th Cannes Film Festival, France, 2013.


Skirt and jumper combo

The classic skirt and jumper combo is a favoured look of Olivia's.

Here she is wearing a Matthew Williamson jumper at the designer's show at London Fashion Week back in February 2011.


Skirt and jumper combo

Another Matthew Williamson fashion show, this time in September 2012, and another skirt and jumper outfit. 


Skirt and jumper combo

We love this cream and leather getup she wore to the Old Navy Holiday Bazaar in December 2013. 


Skirt and jumper combo

A shorter hemline than usual, but no less elegant. Here's Olivia in Victoria Beckham as she leaves Nobu in New York in June 2014.


Skirt and jumper combo

She's also brilliant with layering. This time it's a skirt, jumper and jacket combo, with a big belt to cinch it all in at the Marchesa show at New York Fashion week in 2013.


Dressed down chic

No one quite does dressed down chic quite like Olivia.

This Breton jacket and jeans look, worn back in May 2014, is the ideal brunch outfit.


Dressed down chic

Here's Olivia from May 2013 wearing a monochrome jacket, roll neck jumper, frayed jeans and black brogues to walk her dog.


Dressed down chic

Another day, another dog walking outfit. This time, Olivia paired a puffa jacket with a great pair of trainers, back in October, 2013.


Dressed down chic

No girl should ever be without her khaki jacket. Olivia gives it a stylish twist by pushing up the sleeves to reveal an elegant green blouse in October 2013.


Casual coordination

Olivia and her husband Johannes Huebl, who married in June 2014, prove the old motto that the couple who dress together, stay together.

Here is the couple proving their combined sartorial prowess in matching head-to-toe monochrome looks.


Casual coordination

Another fine example of matching either other's style. Here are Olivia and Johannes at an event in November 2014, looking dapper in tux jackets.


Casual coordination

Summertime is all about lighter colours and fabrics. At New York Fashion Week in September 2013, Olivia and Johannes show us how it's done with their ode to preppy dressing 


Casual coordination

Of course, there can be no finer example of the couple's coordination skills than on their wedding day. Both opted to wear white for the big day, with Olivia donning a three-piece top, shorts and overlay ensemble by Carolina Herrera.


Belt love

In case you hadn't noticed, Olivia is a big fan of a belt.

Where there's a cinch there's a way for this woman. 


Belt love

A double belt affair at the Christian Dior show in September 2014. 


Belt love

For London Fashion Week in September 2014, Olivia went for classic tailoring with another belt to attend the Stella McCartney show.


Belt love

Olivia wears another belted outfit to attend the Issa show at London Fashion Week, September 2014. 


Front row glamour

Olivia regularly holds a seat on the front row at fashion weeks across the globe, so it's no surprise she knocks out brilliant outfit after brilliant outfit.

This white Dior number is a dress she wore to the Christian Dior Show in February 2014. 


Front row glamour

Another stellar example of her fashion week style is this look she wore to the Diane Von Furstenburg show in September 2013 at New York Fashion Week.


Front row glamour

Wearing all black for Paris Fashion Week, September 2014.


Front row glamour

Olivia wears a jumper and skirt combo in deep red, accessorised with a chunky necklace, on her way to the Nina Ricci show at Paris Fashion Week in September 2014.


Front row glamour

Olivia opted for a more casual look to hit the frow at the Christian Dior Autumn/Winter show at Paris Fashion Week 2015.


Front row glamour

Olivia works grown-up glamour for the Schiaparelli Haute Couture show in Paris, July 2016. We love the bold Schiaparelli jacket paired with a stripy top from Zara.


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