Tries, Buys, and DIYs: 5 Things Apartment Therapy Editors Are Loving This Week

by Blair Donovan

As a shopping editor, I always have an ear to the ground for the coolest, smartest, most need-to-know home products — it’s kind of my thing. Now, I’m letting you in on the fun, bringing top picks from our editors’ radars straight to your very own space.

Not sure where to shop, or just need some quick inspo? Start here with a weekly rundown of AT editors’ favorite finds, from things we’ve tested and exciting brand launches to home project kickstarters. Read on to see what’s got our team buzzing this week.

KULE Have a Nice Day Pillow Cover WEST ELM $52.50

“New York-based clothing brand KULE, known as the ‘home of the perfect stripe shirt,’ is bringing their ubiquitous lined styles from your closet to your home — in one of the cheeriest collabs I’ve seen to date. Partnering with West Elm, the two style-savvy retailers launched a nine-piece line of fun pillow covers, cushions, bath accessories, and even a beach towel. Every piece is designed to make you smile but arguably none more so than this peppy ‘Have a nice day!’ accent.” — Blair Donovan, Shopping Editor

My England Packing List by Joanna Goddard

What do you pack for trips? We’re excited to be heading to England this summer, and over the many years of visiting my grandmother, I’ve gotten my packing list down to a science. Here’s what I’m bringing along (and I’d love to hear your go-tos)…

Matching Set

I’m planning to wear a matching set on cliff walks, to windy beaches with the boys, and to drink Shirley Temples at the pub. (More sets here, if you’d like.)

West Elm’s latest capsule collection spotlights cheeky NYC fashion brand by Jennifer Marks

Brooklyn, N.Y. – A new limited-edition collaboration from West Elm is characterized by bold personality and color.

The 13-piece textiles assortment from NYC-based fashion brand Kule includes cushions, pillowcases and beach towels in the brand’s signature colors of royal blue and poppy red. Prices in the Kule x West Elm collection range from $30.00-$125.00.

Kule founder and CFDA member Nikki Kule launched the ready-to-wear brand debuted in 2015 as “classic clothes with a happy wink.” West Elm said the curated collection allows Kule fans to bring the aesthetic into their homes.

Nikki said, “The product is a perfect combination of West Elm’s timeless design, paired with our playful, colorful aesthetic. By mixing our signature stripes and smiles with West Elm styles, we were able to bring our happy energy to the brand.”

17 Vibrant Ways to Wear Summer’s Terry Clothing Trend by Melody Leibner

From tennis dresses to matching sets—and even Prada slides.

As the sun gets stronger and summer fashion sets in, it’s time to equip yourself in head-to-toe terry cloth clothing. A youthful yet versatile fabric that’s both beach and tennis court approved, terry is central to summer’s most sought-after looks.

Terry has always been a staple for Recreational Habits cofounder Jackie Skye Muller. But for summer 2022, “brands have been reinventing it in fun new colors and prints,” she tells BAZAAR.com. This season, we see terry in a whole new light: In addition to shorts and bathing suits, terry takes on rompers, sandals, bags, and dresses are everywhere from Prada to Aritzia to Terry, a label dedicated almost entirely to the sporty fabric. With so many colorful ways to wear it, “terry feels modern for this season,” Divya Mathur, chief merchandising officer at Intermix, agrees.

Making the terry clothing trend your own is all about balance. “To avoid looking too sporty in this heavier fabric, opt for feminine silhouettes like a romper or miniskirt styled back to a coordinating swimsuit,” Mathur suggests. Or try Skye Muller’s tried-and-true terry uniform: “I love dressing up a casual terry short with a crisp button-up shirt—it’s an easy way to stay cool but still look grown up,” she says. To make all your terry dreams come true, we’ve selected 17 dresses, matching sets, and more to keep you on trend all summer long.

The Flamingo Shirt

KULE $148 AT SHOPBOP

Color blocking is made easy with this terry cloth button-down.

Complete the set: Matching shorts, $78 AT SHOPBOP

The Right Stripes: Here’s a Dress Trend That Works For All Occasions by Aemilia Madden

By most fashion insiders’ standards, stripes are a neutral. This simple print—laid out vertically or horizontally, thin or chunky—tends to play well with other zanier options. But, this summer, don’t relegate stripes to a supporting role. The best striped dresses of the season offer plenty of evidence that wrapping yourself in all kinds of lines can be tailored to work for whatever occasion you may have coming up. 

The key to pulling off all-over stripes is to get strategic about exactly what you’re dressing for. A celebratory summer party calls for a thick rainbow or zany contrasting stripes (like JW Anderson’s diagonal designs). For the office, you’ll want something a bit more pared-back, like a Prada shirt dress in a simple green and white stripe that feels both professional and creative. Ahead, shop Vogue’s edit of the best striped dresses that deftly toe the fine line between trendy and forever pieces.  

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Kule tank dress

On days when you want to keep things casual, there’s no better piece than a simple cotton tank dress with a thin stripe. Swap out usual blue for a pop of green and purple instead. $138 KULE SHOP NOW

The Drop List: New Releases From Marimekko x Mansur Gavriel, Boy Smells, Stüssy x Tekla, and More by Audrey Lee

Welcome to another edition of The Drop List, where we, self-proclaimed shopping obsessives, give you the lowdown on the most highly anticipated releases and intriguing launches of the past few weeks. We hope you’ll think of this as a one-stop shop to discover your new favorite brand, an emerging designer, or a fun collaboration straight out of the gate. (And, if you’re craving even more Clever content, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.)

KULE x West Elm

June 1, 2022 – Something that brought a smile to our face earlier this month was this collab between New York–based brand KULE and West Elm. If you’re in need of an uplifting set of throw pillows, towels, or perhaps a sentient bath mat, look no further than these items—emblazoned with a smiley face and stripes—in a very cheery collection designed by Nikki Kule.

KULE x West Elm Square Smile Bath Mat

$40 AT WEST ELM