When the world shut down last March and remote work quickly became the norm, many people found themselves swapping out their typical pre-work stresses—getting up, getting ready, and getting through morning traffic with enough time to make it to the office—for another, unexpected stress: perfecting a Zoom look that provided polished, at-home comfort. Within the span of a month, trends in fashion suddenly shifted from berets to biz-leisure styles—and Phoebe Tonkin took notice.

The 31-year-old actress has always had a knack for fashion—whether it was on screen in The Vampire Diaries or in her day-to-day work as a Chanel ambassador, her laid-back Aussie aesthetic and “cool girl” style were undeniable. As it turns out, Tonkin had actually been brainstorming ways to extend her creative talents outside of the entertainment industry and into the world of fashion for several years. With the push of the pandemic, LESJOUR! was ultimately born.

LESJOUR! (French for “the days”) is a multi-functional leisure ware line that’s sustainably made and designed to meet the moment by helping people to feel beautiful, supported, and prepared for whatever their day may bring—which lately, feels mostly like attending an unnecessary amount of Zoom calls and sending emails from the couch. But with the styles from LESJOUR!, now you can feel effortlessly glamorous while doing all of those things too.

The fashion brand boasts everything from mock neck sweaters and wide-leg knit pants, to cozy cardigans and LESJOUR!-themed socks—most of which are made from a sustainable fabric called EcoVero (made from wood pulp). All of the clothing pieces retail at $198 a piece, while the socks are priced at $18.

We had the chance to connect with Phoebe and ask her about the inspiration behind her sustainable brand, the freedom she found in tapping into creative outlets beyond acting, and how she’d like to see the brand expand in the future. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I read that you were actually percolating on the idea of LESJOUR! long before COVID-19 evolved into what it did. Did the pandemic inspire you to really dive head first into the project?

The items in this collection have been called the perfect “quarantine uniform.” What is your favorite way to style some of the brands’ pieces?

Did it feel natural leaning into the conscious design space, in particular? And was it always important for you to design these pieces with sustainability in mind?

Where are the clothes made?

Phoebe, you have such an established career in entertainment. But with the success of this endeavor, are you looking to continue to expand more of your reach in the landscapes of business or fashion? Any particular projects in mind or that are currently in the works that you could share?

Yes! I am excited to grow LESJOUR! We have some exciting new pieces and color ways dropping very soon, and the plan is to keep expanding and growing the business. There are a lot of exciting plans on LESJOUR!’s horizon.

For more information on LESJOUR! visit www.lesjour.com.

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