Slipcovers, the Old-School Sofa Refreshers, Are Finally Getting a Refresh

YOU MIGHT think of slipcovers as a saggy, dun-coloured signature of shabby chic, that ’90s decor style. In 2023, however, designers are rethinking the concept, with tailored box pleats, clever closures, contrasting fabrics and kicky short skirts distinguishing the best examples. “Slipcovers are experiencing something of a revival just now,” said Ben Pentreath, a London-based interior and architectural designer. Here’s a strategy guide:

The Appeal

Imagine you couldn’t change your clothes without professional help. Such is the sartorial fix in which upholstered furniture finds itself. One workaround: removable slipcovers tailored to fit over sofas or chairs, and give them a new attitude. “A slipcover can change the mood and feeling of the piece itself,” said Cris Briger, interior designer and co-owner of Casa Gusto, a home-design shop in West Palm Beach, Fla. She clad a pair of stuffy, traditional settees in a jaunty striped cover whose flirty skirt still shows a bit of wooden leg and whose tie closures make no attempt to be discreet. “The slipcovers gave them all this personality they could never have with upholstery,” she said.

Such covers both hide existing wear and protect furniture that typically sees far more action than, say, a guest bed. “There’s something so infinitely practical about being able to take a cover off and get it cleaned,” said Mr. Pentreath, “especially for any sofa which dogs sleep on, which is all sofas.”

The Tips

The best makeover candidates? Sturdy, high-quality seats that simply need a refresh. Ideal fabrics include washable cottons, canvas, linens and classic chintz. “I’ve always done slipcovers seasonally,” said Ms. Briger. “When you’re covering up a wool sofa, it’s awfully nice to do polished-cotton stripes for the summertime.”

To ensure his covers don’t shrink catastrophically upon cleaning, Mr. Pentreath prewashes at a high temperature the material that will be used. The process has a bonus flattering effect on “most chintz fabrics,” he said. “It gives them an instant sense of that elusive and much dreamed-of age.”

Slipcovers, impermanent by definition, also free you up to experiment, he notes. You can forgo the long-term practicality of safe performance fabrics and give your sofa a polka-dot-cotton spring or a tweedy, textured fall.

The Caveats

Beyond the cost of fabric, labor to make a sofa slipcover with cushions can cost $1,200, an armchair $500. And some upholstered pieces are ill-suited for a wardrobe change. “Tufted furniture looks bumpy with a cover, so I wouldn’t recommend it,” said Albert Nakash of Bettertex, a New York City textile workshop. “Slipcovers can work for most shapes, but pieces with straight lines make for a nicely tailored fit.

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.