Helly Hansen’s outerwear has been a staple for outdoor enthusiasts for over 100 years, constantly staying at the forefront of the industry by developing new fabrics and pushing design and performance to their limits. What you may not be as familiar with is Helly Hansen’s ever expanding lineup of lifestyle sportswear, but that’s all about to change. The Spring/Summer 2015 sportswear collection from Helly Hansen brings an entirely new look to HH and further solidifies their position as a cutting edge lifestyle brand.
Helly Hansen has projected how it feels to be Scandanavian onto each and everyone of their pieces, combining years of experience and refinement with modern and fresh styling. It’s without question my favorite sportswear collection this season, with each of the pieces not only great looking, but also both functional and comfortable.
Here’s a look at the latest collection and the pieces that I love, all of which are a must for your summer wardrobe.
First up, the Naiad Dress, available in four colors with the evening blue stripe my personal favorite. It features a low-sitting drawstring waste that flatters your figure without being tight or uncomfortable. The drawstring waste also allows you to adjust the dress longer or shorter depending on where you are comfortable – at 5’7″ I never felt that the dress was to short or that I needed to take extra care when sitting as is common with so many short summer dresses. The Naiad dress is a perfect addition to any summer wardrobe and at only $60 it is an extremely affordable one. Naiad Dress- $60
Helly Hansen Naiad Dress
The Helly Hansen Bliss Sweater pairs perfectly with shorts or leggings during the day and your favorite jeans at night. The Bliss Sweater comes in two colors, and like the Naiad Dress, my affinity for stripes wins out with my choice color being the evening blue stripe. The top is loosely designed for an exceptionally comfortable fit but drawn in at the bottom for a clean put together look that is flattering on any body shape. This is a perfect example of Helly Hansen’s ability to combine stylish designs with functional fabrics and comfortable cuts. Bliss Sweater- $50
Helly Hansen Bliss Sweater
If you’re going to add pants to your summer wardrobe, the Bliss Pants and the Thalia Capris are, in a word, amazing. The Bliss Pants offer the comfort of your favorite sweatpants – reminiscent of the ones you stole from your boyfriend in college and never returned. The difference is that the Bliss pants actually look as amazing as they feel. The legs are tapered so you can dress them up a bit with a pair of heels, and the pockets (despite offering ample room) aren’t bulky, and they’re cut at an angle mimicking dress pants. You’ll want to spend day and night in these pants, and the beauty is, you can. Bliss Pant- $50
For really hot days, the Thalia Capri are the perfect pants, letting you go from shopping and lunch on the docks to an evening sail without wrinkles or discomfort common in traditional dress pants. The Thalia Capris are lightweight and breathable, taking advantage of Helly Hansen’s quick dry fabric with 4-way stretch. If you prefer pants over capris, you can choose the Thalia Pants which offer the same great design and fabrics. Thalia Capri- $60
Helly Hansen Bliss Pant
No Summer collection would be complete without a bikini, and Helly Hansen designs great bikinis. Choose from the Excite, Ignite or Inspire, but feel free to mix and match their collections to best fit your body type as the tops and bottoms are sold individually and come in matching color options. The most important thing when it comes to choosing a bikini is that it looks good, and with the wide variety of tops and bottoms, no matter what body type you are, there’s a perfect fit combination for you. My choice – the Excite Bikini top and bottom – features a sport bandeau top with adjustable straps that can go from standard to racerback, while the tie backs on both the top and bottom ensure a custom and perfect fit. HH Bikini Tops and Bottoms- $50
Helly Hansen Excite Bikini
Check out the complete collection by heading to the Helly Hansen website and complete your Srping/Summer wardrobe by mixing and matching their designs. For the men, don’t feel left out, as Helly Hansen has created an equally attractive collection for you as well. Stay tuned as we’ll discuss our favorite pieces next week. In the meantime, you can check out the collection here.
