About Ladies of Leisure

Ladies of Leisure is a slow fashion brand devoted to full-length silk dresses, meticulously crafted from noble fabrics and designed to move with effortless grace across the body.

Each piece is created for the woman who understands that true luxury is measured not in possessions but in moments: replenishing her soul with rest, enlivening her heart through the art of hosting, and expanding her world through travel, curiosity, and connection.

These dresses are more than clothing. They are companions to a life lived fully, a gentle reminder that elegance and ease can coexist in every gesture, every day.

The Quiet Coup

We don’t do fast fashion. We do slow coups. Floor-sweeping, meticulously stitched, cut from fabrics so noble they should have their own titles. Nothing here pinches, pulls, or pretends to be minimal. These are dresses for women who decided rest is non-negotiable, joy is oxygen, and looking extraordinary is simply good manners.

Some women chase the day. We let the morning wander our way. We arrange gatherings that forget to end. We vanish to islands when the light feels right. We wear dresses meant to be worn for decades and handed on like myths.

Melanie Wolf and Shalini Kumar started Ladies of Leisure in 2025 because the dresses they wanted to live in didn’t yet exist. Their inspiration came from intentionally slowing down while moving through vibrant cities—San Francisco, New Delhi, Athens, and Chicago—each one teaching its own rhythm.

They took their cue from the sunsets that refused to be rushed, quietly insisting that the best things arrive unhurried and entirely on their own terms. Moments that asked us to breathe deeper, walk slower, and remember that elegance has its own deliberate pace. The result: floor-sweeping rebellion disguised as butter-soft silk.

Recharge. Gather. Voyage. The revolution will be comfortable.

Shalini kumar

Indian-born and raised as an army brat, she grew up absorbing the cultural blend of a post-colonial society, which refined her instincts for luxury fashion and warm hospitality. Years spent building brands and working closely with family-run ateliers taught her how much obsession, precision, and care a single seam can hold.

A decade and a half as a professor of luxury fashion affirmed her belief that while some garments outlive empires, others barely survive a season. She distilled this depth of knowledge into her writing, authoring Fashion’s First Designers and Fashion: A Reflection of Time, tracing the last century’s influence on contemporary fashion.

Today, she approaches every motif and fabric as legacy, guided by history, craft, and an unwavering commitment to elegance that transcends trends, choosing only what she believes will still matter fifty years from now.

Melanie Wolf

A native of the American Southwest, Melanie grew up beneath vast desert skies, chasing sunsets and the stories hidden in wide-open landscapes, a childhood that instilled in her a deep appreciation for beauty and togetherness. Nine years immersed in Europe, traveling and collaborating across continents, sharpened her sense of timeless style and effortless hospitality. She channeled her philosophy into her book Draw a Circle (Not a Line): A Modern Guide to the Ancient Art of Hospitality, sharing the PLUM Method to help hosts welcome guests with calm confidence.

At 5'11", Melanie struggled to find flowing, full-length silk dresses made for tall women. This practical gap in the market inspired her to design her own solution. Today, Melanie curates dresses and gatherings with the same quiet intention, rooted in the sacred and rich with thoughtful details.

A Lady of Leisure

An afternoon with her feet on the divan becomes a private coronation, a quiet celebration of presence. Every detail whispers intention, every gesture affirms quiet authority. While the world bends to trends, a lady of leisure moves entirely on her own timeless path.

Explore our couture details → Here

Discover our signature Circle Dress → Here

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