Chava Studio Founder Olivia Villanti on Berets, Old School Phone Calls and Body-Shaming Ballet Teachers

It’s hard to say anything about Olivia Villanti without stretching out your vowels. That’s because the freelance writer and founder of Chava Studio inspires statements like “She’s the niiiiiiicest.” And “She’s so cooooool.” And “Oh my god, Olivia is the beeeeest.” You get the idea. A freelance writer who counts Madewell, Alex Mill and Ulla Johnson among her clients, she also recently launched Chava Studio, a Mexico-city based line of perfectly tailored, vintage-inspired button ups and dresses that are the ideal mix of masculine and feminine. For her Haystack Story, Olivia touched on microwave popcorn, landlines and CD collections while lamenting her long lost black velvet beret. It’s so goooooood.

Name: Olivia Villanti
Occupation: founder Chava Studio, freelance writer
Handle: @oliviavillanti, @chava_studio
Location: Mexico City

What’s the item that stars in your Haystack Story?
My black velvet beret.

Do you still have it?
Sadly no. I’m not good at saving things, a trait I’m trying to course correct now that I have so much I’ve loved and lost. Also the entire reason Chava Studio has come to be is because Guillaume’s uncle who owns the studio saves EVERYTHING. I’ve a new appreciation for saving things because you never know when you can repurpose them.

Tell us about it!
It was a simple black velvet beret I bought at an antique shop with my mother. Most weekends of my childhood life were spent at auctions and antique stores (my mother was a bit obsessive—I took my first steps at an auction!). It was purchased in probably 1992 and I wore it for about 3 formative years (ages 11 - 14). It was a bit snug on me so it always left little indentations on my forehead.

Olivia in the early 90s, wearing her signature beret.

Why was it so perfect?
Well I suppose that it felt like a constant during a pretty rocky moment of my adolescence. It was like an heirloom, I know there was a loose tag inside that I think literally said Berdorf’s in cursive (but I’m not 100% sure) and maybe it belonged to a child once upon a time. It’s a bit metaphoric, this snug little hat that was fit for a child, I wore it continuously during some tough years and then who knows what happened once I turned 15? I hope someone has it now! It’s pretty classic. It wasn’t one of those oversized berets, it was more of slim fit and it didn’t feel pegged to a moment in time.

How does it make you feel?
Honestly a little choked up! It’s almost like seeing your blankie from childhood, a security blanket. I remember so many of my insecurities and also so many highs during this time. It’s also funny to see an image of yourself and think “There you are!” Like reuniting with an old friend. My cousin Amanda to my right in this picture [above] was a huge source of style inspo and I would always think “what would she wear?” She borrowed this hat during a trip we took to Ireland which was a huge endorsement. I think we are on the plane on our way there in this photograph! My cousin Ned is on my left.

If it could talk what would it say?
You’re gonna be OK, Olivia. (And maybe, “don’t listen to your ballet teacher when she tells you to watch what you eat,” but that’s a separate conversation.)

When did you get it?
1992 I think?

Who did you have a crush on back then?
Oh god. Johnny Depp? Rider Strong? River Phoenix. Who didn’t I have a crush on? I’ve always been a hopeless romantic.

What did your Friday nights look like?
Every Friday my parents would take us to a place called Fosters in Rhinebeck (still there to this day!) and I would order a grilled cheese with French fries (until previously mentioned dance teacher made that contraband).

If someone gave you $20 to spend, what would you have bought?
Probably some kind of jewelry from Claire’s at the mall: chokers or bracelets. OR CDs (I usually did those 10 discs for .99 ponzi schemes so I truly had a HUGE collection of CDs). OR if it were end of summer I was stockpiling cash to spend at the Dutchess County Fair where everything cost the equivalent of a million dollars to me at the time and I would save everything to spend on entrance, rides, games and ice cream.

The Infinity Collared shirt from Chava Studio.

What show did you rush home to watch?
My So Called Life. I have such vivid memories of watching that in my parents bedroom while talking to my friend Megan on the phone (the good old fashioned cord kind that would get all warped and twisted).

What was your favorite snack?
Microwave popcorn, obviously.

Who were you then, and who are you now?
Truthfully I’m the same person. I was so impressionable and to this day I still am. I’ve always been so influenced by the world around me (maybe that’s why my haystack story is such a cliche 🤪). I also have just always loved things that have a past. This could be an inherited trait from my mom (all those auctions and antique stores are in my blood). As for changes, I suppose I’ve grown into myself, like we all have, but sometimes I wish I could get that girl back! I was so in awe of the world and I felt things so deeply during this moment of my life. Now as a mother I just want to nurture that rocky, turbulent ride for my son and not numb any of it. It’s all kind of tragic and beautiful. Okay I’ll stop, maybe I am just as sentimental as always.