From mainstream brands to indie lines, we picked our favorites to shop from right now.
With how many brands you can shop from out there, picking where to spend your money can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. As commerce editors, we spend at least eight hours a day, well, shopping (yes, we know we’re lucky), taking stock of different labels that come across our desk and excite us enough to want to share with you. And our interest piques just a little more, too, when we spot a particularly stellar female-founded brand. That’s why we decided to finally document our favorite fashion lines among clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories for you to fill your closets with. We, of course, recommend reliable favorites, like Tory Burch and Sarah Flint, which have been recommended time and time again by celebrities (and editors!), but we gathered a few more lesser-known, just as worthwhile companies to shop from. We also marked the price range typical for the brand — $ means inexpensive, $$ stands for moderately priced, $$$ will be a splurge, and $$$$ stands for designer or true luxury prices — so you can know before you click. But regardless of what you’re in the market for and how much you want to spend, you’re sure to find something you love.
Founder Nikki Kule grew up in the fashion world with both her parents owning and running their own brand. She focused on kidswear when she launched her brand in 2001 before becoming the creative director of Brooks Brothers kids and being inducted into the CFDA. But in 2015 she pivoted to womenswear, perfecting the striped shirt. We love the joy her clothes exude with whimsical sayings and logo T-shirts (and let’s not forget the matching socks), while still honing in on quality. We’ve named her white T-shirt as the most splurge-worthy tee you can buy, too. Kule has gone on to collaborate with brands like Madewell, Bergdorf Goodman, West Elm, and more, becoming a true sensation in casualwear.
Categories: Everything | Price Range: $$ | BIPOC-Owned: No
These early days of March can be a challenging time to get dressed as we collectively long for the warmer days ahead. With some of us escaping to warm destinations for Spring Break, we can start looking forward to what’s to come 🌱☀️. In our excitement for spring weather, we have developed some formulas to take you through the season. Read on below for four spring outfit anatomies to make dressing for spring a March-like breeze.
One thing is for sure: layers are your friend from now through May. You want to be thoughtful about what exactly you’re layering. Try a comfortable button-up shirt for your base layer. In 100% cotton, it’s lightweight and breathable. With a classic blazer over, you’ll look perfectly put together. When the temperature starts to rise, add a fun, easy tennis skirt, and flip-flops (they’re back!). Don’t forget a big tote to carry your tennis gear (or groceries), your favorite sunglasses, and a very appropriate tennis bracelet 🎾.
Nelson Blazer
Hutton Shirt
Ray-Ban Sunglasses
Williams Skirt
Tennis Tote
Roxanne Assoulin Tennis Bracelet
Tkees Sandals
One of the easiest outfits for spring involves a set because it’s one-and-done! If you’re going on vacation or dreaming of tube-top weather, pair your top with a comfortable stretchy mid-length skirt, which is a sophisticated (dare we say, sexy?) new style (you can pair it with a solid white tank or tee for more coverage if preferred). Throw on an oxford shirt for some modesty, or add a sweater for early-springtime wear. Add casual shoes to finish your look and maybe a hint of gloss on your lips 💋.
For a classic outfit (with a twist), try our bestselling striped cotton Tatum sweater (in a new cheery royal blue color) layered over a lightweight, collared, or hooded layer (great for a spring shower!). Wide-leg khakis on the bottom will keep you looking casual but still chic. Styled with a loafer or Chelsea boot now and sandals later because the window in which you can perfectly pair trousers with sandals only lasts so long!
Tatum Sweater
Kerber Jacket
Loewe Khaki Trousers
Prada Terry Scrunchie
Tkees Sandals
Here’s to the warmer days ahead! ☀️
Feeling inspired? We have more seasonal dressing tricks up our sleeves 😉. Shop the new KULE Spring Collection for more inspiration.
While we are known for our stripes, the Take Out happy face graphic has also become a staple of the KULE brand. A graphic tee can be a cheeky, fun, and unexpected element for a wide variety of outfits. We always have many different ones to inspire you, so read on for how to say something with your outfit 🙂.
If you aren’t familiar with the aforementioned Take Out tee, here is a quick background: Nikki based the tee design on the iconic take out food bags carried any day of the week throughout New York City. What’s better than take out for dinner? Its playful smile and fun backstory make it the perfect contrast to a classic blazer and patterned skirt, which is how Nikki wore it to our Rockefeller Center’s store opening party. The graphic tee is a great conversation starter and makes for a welcoming feature to an outfit. You will definitely get a smile back 🙂.
Pickleball is taking over, and our club is welcoming new members 🏓 with our latest graphic for spring. The bold primary colors in the tee make a statement, so pair it with neutral pieces: our new Raffa cardigan because a cozy touch of stripes is always a good idea. These High Sport pants, which you could literally play pickleball in, they’re so stretchy and comfortable. Nikki highly recommends them (they’re so comfortable, she even loves them for plane rides!). Finish the look off with a lady bag and classic slide to elevate this otherwise playful look.
Our Love graphic has been a customer favorite for years, so Nikki designed this 70s-inspired sweatshirt for our first spring drop. Wear it with tailored trousers, causal but clean sneakers, and your favorite tote for errands (or any given day at the KULE office).
For the final look, we’re heading to Italy. Our Rigatoni tee has you wearing your favorite pasta on your tee (we also have Cacio e Pepe and Spaghetti on the menu if you favor). Paired with a chic jacket, classic mid-wash denim, and loafers, you are well-dressed but don’t take yourself too seriously. And it’s a subtle hint about what you want for dinner 🍝.
What We Love: The Portuguese cotton feels extra soft and sturdy.
What We Don’t Love: The logo at the bottom makes this not an all-white shirt.
Turn to this shirt if you, like us, are fed up with holes, see-through fabric, or quickly worn out tees that only last a season or two. Constructed with Portuguese cotton, this tee feels soft and light, while still hefty enough to hold its shape and stay durable. While we appreciate the added visual element of the Kule logo stitched at the hem because it visually sets the shirt apart from the rest, we understand that might be a distraction for others. Otherwise, the straight cut, relaxed neck, and fitted shoulders gives this a genderless appeal with ample amounts of comfort. Whether you’re spending the day in or out of the house, you’ll look and feel well put together.
As an NYC-based brand, we love trying new restaurants and food trends in our amazing city. We fell in love with the “New York Happy Meal” concept–a martini + fries–from Grub Street’s Newsletter, The Year I Ate New York, by E. Alex Jung. We also happen to know some pretty kule people who know where to find this perfect combo, so we got their takes on where to find the absolute best—no surprise toy required. Read on for your next very, very happy meal 🍸🍟.
From KULE Spring/Summer 2022, photographed by Mei Tao
We asked some of our friends who know their way around the NYC martini + fry scene to recommend the absolute best:
Susie Park, Creative Consultant and Martini Connoisseur
Currently, my martini order is basically like someone ordering at Starbucks: Titos martini, dry, slightly dirty — the opposite of catholic school girl dirty, and no garnish (it takes away from the alcohol in my glass). My original is Kettle One martini, dirty, with extra olives.
The first time I had a Martini was at Pastis, the original location, at the communal table (which was filled with all of my friends). As a result, Pastis will always be one of my go-to Happy Meal spots, even at the new location. French fries are always ordered with aioli. JG Melon is my favorite NYC restaurant. They need to be mentioned. That said, their new fries are not my jam. Is there still a shortage of cottage fries? My order at JG Melon is a martini, fries (extra crispy) with a side of mayo, and bbq sauce. The back lounge at Greenwich Hotel, which is usually for hotel guests only, has fries on its menu. A cozy couch seat by the fire with a martini and fries, and a side of mustard is the perfect way to end a day. Polo Bar and Bemelmans Bar are honorable mentions. While not technically a “Happy Meal,” their snack caddies cannot be ignored. Plus, Bemelmans martinis come with a little sidecar.
At Pastis, I would wear a shapeless dress with puffy sleeves and KULE Betty striped sweater over my shoulders. At JG Melon, I would do jeans and a button-down, a KULE leopard cardigan, brown 20-year-old Gucci loafers from college, and heart socks. As for Greenwich Hotel: anything that looks like I’m coming from work, but really am coming from working on my couch. I’d throw one of the big striped totes in to complete my “work” look.
No matter how fancy a restaurant or watering hole might be, I think the ultimate compliment you can pay to any fry is that it’s exactly like a McDonald’s fry, particularly regarding the width and crispiness. With that in mind, I think some of my favorite spots that get this right in New York are Raoul’s, The Standard Grill, Jojo, and The Polo Bar. On the martini front, I used to be a strict dirty-vodka martini, but these days I’ve been favoring the purity of the gin twist, probably due to spending too much time with some Brits this winter. If I’m feeling bold, I go for the Vesper, a combination of both gin and vodka with a bit of Lillet Blanc, or a Gibson with the little cocktail onions, provided it’s my last stop of the night, and my breath won’t be offending anyone I come across.
As for the outfit, I’ve got no hard and fast rules there. This is always dictated by the chosen venue, the present company, and, frankly, whether I feel like putting on a tie.
Alex Hill, Recipe Developer and Cooking Instructor
First is The Smith in The Flatiron. Let’s never hate on a chain restaurant with great bartenders! When I worked close by The Smith, my coworkers and I would go all the time for the mussels & fries and a good cold extra dirty martini with extra olives! I also like DUMBO House in Brooklyn. Although Dumbo House is membership-only, their fries are pretty slamming, be sure to get all the dips, including the garlic aioli, and their martinis are A++++! I mean, the rooftop overlooking the Brooklyn bridge while sipping on dirty martinis and eating hot fries is a win-win Friday night for me!
I would def wear The Sinclair cardigan (in black, of course). It gives cute and casual, but you can dress it up or down! I’m definitely also a sneaker girl, and pairing them with statement socks adds a nice little touch. So, I could also do biker shorts, a crop top, and socks for cute for a martini & fries type of night.
I love having the NYC Happy Meal at two places in NYC and with Edward Barsamian. Bemelmams Bar at The Carlyle and The Nines. When ordering at the table at either establishment, they bring a small vessel of the remaining martini from the shaker to refresh as you sip. I am a vodka martini, preferably Grey Goose, shaken and slightly dirty with olives and, if possible, with shards of ice floating in the glass. No condiments with my fries in a NY Happy Meal. The martini balances the salty fries and makes the perfect pairing. My other go-to pairing with my fries is a side of mayo, but sans martini.
As for New York Happy Meal dressing: Bemelmans wear a classic three-button fitted blazer, wide-leg pants preferably pleated (maybe with texture), a classic white button down, and monk strap shoes with a chunky sole. At The Nines, I wear an oversized coat, great knit, straight-leg clean pants, and a sleek loafer.
I love a very dirty vodka martini, and for fries, I like ketchup, mayo, AND mustard (condiment fiend). One of my favs for this happy meal has to be The Odeon. Corner Bar is also delish.
You know I don’t need much of a reason to get dressed up; last time I met up at Corner Bar for a martini, I wore a printed Helmstedt nightgown dress, striped (KULE!) socks, loafers, and a ski hat made out of raffia.
100% without a doubt, the answer is Edward’s in Tribeca. It’s a little hole in the wall (across from the more popular Odeon). It’s a neighborhood spot that always has a seat for you but with just the right amount of people to always feel cozy. When I was working in Canada, Jon and I would go there every Friday night when I flew home. They make a killer Pat La Frieda burger, cobb salad, and martini. And the fries are off the charts. For a martini: vodka, dirty, bone dry. For fries: gotta have ketchup. What more do you need? We had our wedding dinner at Edward’s there after getting married at City Hall in 2018. We are Edward’s’ #1 fans.
Dress code: everything from tuxes (i.e. my wedding) to tees (i.e. my daily life).
My perfect NY Happy Meal is a dirty Hendricks martini with a few olives. (If I’m feeling indulgent, stuffed with blue cheese.) And for the fries, ketchup and nice grainy mustard are great, but mayo is absolutely required. As for the best spots to find one: Balthazar! Owner Keith McNally is up to his usual antics, and this will always be a no-brainer. I also love Fanelli Cafe, which has been one of the best places for an ice-cold martini (paired with a cheeseburger and fries) for decades. Then there’s The Odeon, another classic from Mr. McNally and one that has never let me down. Located right across the street is Edward’s, a lowkey spot that a certain gentleman by the name of James Kuerschner introduced me to years and years ago. I also love Julius in Greenwich Village. This one’s for the gays (although I recommend everyone visit Julius at some point while in NYC, no matter their persuasion) and especially for those who like their martinis very strong and very inexpensive. In The West Village are Jeffrey’s Grocery and its across-the-street sister (brother?) restaurant Joseph Leonard, which are some of the best spots to sit at the bar, chat with a bartender (who will most likely be the kindest person you speak with all day), and have a fantastic ‘tini. Last but not least is Soho Grand! As a former employee of this New York mainstay, I could never leave it out. It’s home away from home for me and many of my friends in New York and an ideal place to grab a “NY Happy Meal.”
And what am I wearing? I’m so glad you asked. A nicely structured coat (a friend once equated coats in NYC to cars in LA — it’s our place to put everything, and you’re pretty screwed without a decent one) over a worn-in white Oxford shirt, my favorite pair of APCs, and white sneakers paired with a fun pair of KULE socks(the “OMG” ones are my current fav).
It’s hard to argue that any group of fashion people dress more elegantly than the French. Tailored staples, classic silhouettes, and effortless styling seem innate to their everyday aesthetic. Although this elevated minimalism usually doesn’t feature playful patterns, there is one traditional print that the French do best: stripes.
This nautical stripe has almost become synonymous with sophistication. To emulate this European elegance I have chosen five outfits to incorporate simple stripes in an effortlessly French way. Below you’ll find the chicest striped pieces on the market accompanied by sophisticated sidekick items to add to your capsule closet.
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