Crafting a Signature Style with Nikki Kule

This Fall, In Kind Magazine interviewed Nikki about her personal style for its Issue No. 7. If you don’t know of In Kind Magazine, then you must subscribe. It’s a biannual print magazine created and edited by Leah Melby Clinton and Hannah Weil McKinley that focuses on career, motherhood, and style. Nikki’s Instagram selfies caught the eye of Leah and Hannah, who then reached out to include her in the magazine. In Nikki’s feature, she discusses the art of dressing for herself and finding inspiration. We’re including a sneak peek of In Kind this week to dive deeper into Nikki’s outfit formulas for each season.

For fall/winter in New York, where Nikki was born and raised, she says she’s a coat and pants girl. “Pants are what I love to start with and build my look from there.” Nikki says her go-to pieces are “a button-down shirt from KULE, trousers, and a great coat or jacket.”

In the spring, Nikki likes to layer and still keeps a favorite jacket like the KULE Rox Trench with which she wears a KULE tee (the Wynn Baby Tee is her current favorite), great pants, and sandals.

When Nikki’s in Miami, she uses the same process of getting dressed, but adds some more playful elements. 

Interview as told to by Hannah Weil McKinley of In Kind. For more of the interview, including some of Nikki’s go-to brands to mix with KULE, packing and style tips for travel, and her approach to design these days, you can order a copy of In Kind issue No.7.

Hello, Atlanta 👋🍑

We are thrilled to share that last week, we became an official Atlanta resident with a brand new store in Buckhead Village. This is our first store in the South and third current store (our others are both in New York: at Rockefeller Center and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn). As a New York brand, we are excited to branch out and have this new space, our largest one yet. You have to see the magic of the space, decked out in–what else–stripes! There will never be a substitute for in-person shopping, and our stores fill the experience with warmth and smiles 🙂

KULE Atlanta store interior

The most remarkable feature of the store — one you cannot miss — is the stripes across the ceiling and down the wall of the space. Nikki wanted you to feel encapsulated in stripes, a feature inspired by The Beverly Hills Hotel during a trip to LA this past summer.

Beverly Hills Hotel Inspo
Nikki at The Beverly Hills Hotel this past summer
Nikki Kule at KULE Atlanta store
Makes you want to paint stripes on your ceiling, huh?

The store is a labor of love starting with Nikki’s design conception of the space; the largest KULE storefront she’s taken on yet. With the help of Debora Cicchini and her sketches, they worked on the space from New York and when they arrived in Atlanta is somehow all came together 🤪

KULE Atlanta store sketch
KULE Atlanta store interior

To customize the space, Tracy Morgan made all of the striped paintings and colorful sculptures, we adorned the walls in many of our favorite KULE editorial images shot by Mei Tao, and Debora Cicchini made that ginormous KULE tee in the window by hand (while en route to Atlanta)!

KULE Atlanta store interior shelf
The store features more than a dozen striped paintings by artist Tracy Morgan
KULE Atlanta store big tee shirt in window
Debora Cicchini hand-made this ginormous KULE tee for our window

The store has so many personal elements to Nikki such as the knickknacks and art that are items she has collected from each city we have previously had a pop-up (the Mr. Santa Barbara painting from our Montecito pop-up now resides in Atlanta). Nikki also loves to find local store owners and artists. Also included is another new painting from her favorite Buckhead discovery and neighbor in the village, Bella Cucina, and its amazing owner, Alisa Barry (she provided the greenery for the store as well).

KULE Atlanta store interior collage
KULE Atlanta store interior collage

Special thanks to the KULE team lead by President Jim Kuerschner and Head of Retail Kara Love for your hard work in making this space come to life 💪

Our captains 🚢

If you couldn’t make it, we’d love to have you come check out the store at 247 Buckhead Avenue Atlanta, GA 30305. It’s just peachy 🍑.

Where should we go next? 🤔

Harper’s Bazaar

Harper's Bazaar featuring KULE cashmere Betty sweater as Best Striped Sweater Overall

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The 21 Best Striped Sweaters Are True Wardrobe Staples by Halie Lesavage

Because one striped sweater isn’t quite enough

The saying that “you can’t have too much of a good thing” definitely applies to the best striped sweaters. While I swear by a single camel wool coat each winter and named a straight-leg denim pair my all-time best jeans a decade ago, I can always create space in my closet for another Breton stripe knit.

From oversize turtlenecks with black and cream stripes to cashmere pullovers with thick, sunset-tone shades, the best striped sweaters of 2023 showcase the infinite styling potential of a well-placed line. Decades ago, knits streaked with cream, black, navy, or camel stripes cemented their status as eternal wardrobe essentials with help from icons like Jane Birkin. All they needed were a tailored jean and one of the best ballet flats to look put-together. Fresh twists are so much more than neutral-on-neutral crewnecks, however, so there’s enough variety to justify ordering more than one knit. Nowadays, “most sweaters can be very flattering and at times even sexy,” stylist Alexis Badiyi said. “For something unexpected, I love styling against the traditional feeling of a striped sweater, that to me can feel a bit preppy or buttoned up.” Out of the ordinary sweaters like Acne Studios’ dip-dyed oversize knit or the sensual slim fit of a Khaite polo sweater are evidence. But if you want to go the French girl route with your stripes, classic options from SĂŠzane and Kule will have you covered.

Read on for the 21 best striped sweaters that are so essential, you may have to shop more than one. Each one was chosen based on its fabrication, fit, shopper recommendations, and my own testing—and each one can be worn a different way.


BEST STRIPED SWEATER OVERALL

Kule The Betty

$298 AT KULE.COM

The Betty

BEST STRIPED SWEATER OVERALL

Kule The Betty

$298 AT KULE.COMCREDIT: KULE

Kule’s striped sweaters have a habit of working their way into my conversations with other editors. It’s half because Kule has one of the widest ranges of stripe colors to choose from, half because the sweaters keep their fresh-from-the-box quality even after dozens of wears. (The same standard applies to the brand’s best T-shirts.) Kule’s stripes have even landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list.

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Cream/navy, navy/cream, black/cream, heather gray/navy, cream multi, and more

If I Gifted Myself…

It’s fun to stop and think about what you’d gift yourself during a time when you’re mostly worrying about what you’ll gift everyone else. From what I personally own, use, love, and consider great gifts, to what I have in my own shopping cart (in case my family needs any ideas!), I’ve put together a guide with my suggestions. Happy shopping 🎁 xo, Nikki

Nikki Kule Gift Guide 2023

Hermès Les Mains Nail Enamel in Porcelain Rose, Lisa Corti Nizam Flower Napkins, Sophie Bille Brahe Pearl Cluster Earrings, Sofia Coppola Archive, KULE Art Socks, Jennifer Alfano Large Mariner Link 18k Bracelet, Jennifer Alfano Circle Pendant, KULE Pauline Flower Appliqué Sweatshirt, Alaia Heart-Toe Slingback Pumps, KULE Art Kap, Tanya Ling The Carriage Hall Positif Silkscreen, Courrèges ‘La Fille De L’Air’ Eau De Parfum, Bottega Veneta Mini Pouch Bag

For more help with gifting, check out The KULE Gift List.

Vogue

Vogue featuring KULE cashmere Betty sweater as best boat stripe sweater for luxe layering

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Is There Anything Better Than a Cashmere Sweater? Shop 40+ Styles for Luxe Layering by Laura Jackson

Sweater weather is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate than by slipping into of the best cashmere sweaters on a crisp day? Their soothing softness might be the extra dose of comfort you need right now, whether you’re layering up for an office commute or snuggling up at home on the weekend. And while the best cashmere sweaters for women have a reputation for having a high price tag, direct-to-consumer brands have given the covetable piece a more approachable price point, starting at the $100 mark (not to mention these affordable steals make for fabulous holiday gifts). 

If you’re unfamiliar with the material, cashmere comes from the fluffy undercoat of cashmere and pashmina goats and has been used to make yarn, textiles, and, of course, clothing for centuries. Unlike sheep’s wool, cashmere is softer and more supple, cementing its place as a luxury staple in your wardrobe. When shopping for your choice of cashmere, there are a few helpful tips to consider: First off, determine what type of style, warmth, and weight you’re after—this will be a defining factor in your sweater’s durability over time. And finally, if possible, try and get a good look at your cashmere choice in person to check for any pills, test out its touch and feel, and inspect for any loose threads in the stitching. And when it comes to caring for your cashmere, avoid any unwanted visits from moths by always washing by hand.

What’s even better is that many designers and direct-to-consumer brands like Everlane and Stella McCartney have committed to ethical and sustainable cashmere practices so that you can not only look good in your cashmere of choice but feel good about it too. Below, we’ve pulled together a handful of stylish sweaters to invest in. This mix of classic silhouettes will stay fresh season after season and includes yummy oversized turtlenecks from Vince and Allude, crewnecks from Tory Burch and The Frankie Shop, alongside perfect polos from Alex Mill and Toteme and cult-favorite cardigans from Khaite and Proenza Schouler. Festive Fair Isle finds that easily transition from the streets to the slopes are also up for grabs. 

Whether you’re planning for a winter weekend spent in the snow, snuggly staying put in the city, or just simply looking to treat yourself or a loved one this holiday season, here are 44 of the best cashmere sweaters to consider that are as chic as they are cozy.

Boat Stripes

A statement striped sweater should be a staple in your winter wardrobe—or any wardrobe for that matter. Of course, Everlane’s striped cashmere classic is at the top of our list, though, the options from Kule, Anine Bing, and Extreme Cashmere are equally desirable. Think beyond nautical summer fashion and style yours for winter with suede boots and a chic camel coat.

KULE The Betty sweater $298

Vogue

Vogue featuring KULE Cashmere Betty sweater for Kate Middleton style

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Kate Middleton Styles Her Skinny Jeans and Chelsea Boots in a Quintessentially British Fashion by Alex Kessler

Kate Middleton knows how to amp-up the glamour for an evening appearance—think Alexander McQueen suiting, Catherine Walker coats and Alessandra Rich dresses. But Kate also knows how to serve an off-duty looks for her more relaxed public engagements that are camera-ready, while still being as democratic and carefully considered as any of her other styling decisions.

On her more casual days, she tends to rely on a trusted capsule of countryside classics that are quintessentially British, such as waxy outdoor jackets, Breton tops and slim-fit jeans, that are practical options for our notoriously drizzly climate. For her latest outing, the Princess opted to style all three of these staples at once, wearing a look that you’re likely to see at every pub in the Cotswolds or West London park on a Sunday afternoon.

LONDON ENGLAND  NOVEMBER 1 Catherine Princess of Wales takes part in a Dad Walk in the local park during a visit to...

During a visit to Dadvengers, a community for fathers and their children in Arnos Grove in North London, Kate Middleton turned to her reliable everyday basics once again — items that have all become something of a uniform for the royal. She wore a black and white long-sleeve striped top, an olive-hued waxed outdoor Barbour jacket with visible heritage check lining (that she has worn previously), high-waisted skinny jeans in a dark blue wash and lug-sole Chelsea boots.

The wax jacket has long been a staple of the royal family—it has been reported that the late Queen Elizabeth II was so attached to her Barbour Beaufort jacket that when the brand offered to replace her waxed style with a newer iteration, she opted to hold on to her well-loved original for 25 years. The royal family photo albums will be filled with pictures over the decades of King Charles II, the late Princess Diana, Prince William and the Princess of Wales wearing their wax jackets on relaxed royal visits and traversing the Highlands countryside.

Even though this specific occasion required an outdoor, playground-friendly outfit and nothing too formal (like her go-to tailored trouser suits), Kate managed to maintain her signature polish. This is a look we’ll no doubt see her sticking to for years, if not decades, to come.

Shop the Princess’ classic look, below. Plus, more British heritage pieces.

KULE

The Betty cashmere sweater

$298

KULE