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 🍝.
We love a reason to layer on sweaters and get cozy. And so, we put together some style inspiration for winter activities — from sipping hot chocolate at Serendipity to defrosting at Après-ski — all featuring pieces available in our first-ever Warehouse Sale at up to 70% off (and ending soon!). Grab your mug or wine glass and shop the sale ❄️.
Whether or not you are good on skates, ice skating is a necessary embrace of winter. You must dress for the occasion, of course! We recommend going bright and cheery in our rainbow Holly sweater, worn with a turtleneck and stretchy pants. You will have enough layers to keep going until you’re a pro. Make sure to wear cozy socks with comfy but cute shoes that are not too hard to change out of. And if you happen to choose the Rockefeller Center ice rink, stop by the KULE store while you’re there 😉.
Romance takes on a new level when it’s snowing outside on date night, but you must dress accordingly! Try layering the comfy cotton chic best-selling Syd blazer (now 50% off) over a cami with classic accessories and maybe some winter whites for contrast. The blazer has stretch, so you’ll look sharp but feel like you’re wearing a sweatshirt.
The Syd Blazer (on sale)
The Hutton Shirt
Raey Jeans
Hanro Cami
Laura Lombardi Necklace
Toteme Boots
We highly recommend going wine tasting with friends this winter weekend. It’s a particularly popular winter activity in the North East — who knew!? Dress happy in the Capucine cardigan sweater. In a colorful check print, you’ll be the coolest one keeping warm over a glass (or several) of wine 🍷.
The Capucine Cardigan (on sale)
Ralph Lauren Denim Shirt
Vintage Levi's Jeans
Wolf Circus Pearl Necklace
Vintage Hermès Boots
We cannot discuss winter dressing without talking about your best après-ski look. The Sven sweater in a fuzzy praline-colored stripe will keep you cozy as you defrost from skiing. Pair it with stirrups, socks, and of course, a balaclava. Dressing only for the “après” part of skiing works for us, too.
The Sven Sweater (on sale)
The Happy Face Sock (on sale)
The Moritz Balaclava
Celine Sunglasses
Splits59 Stirrup
Get excited to dress not only for winter! We have clothes for all seasons at the first-ever KULE Warehouse Sale. We’re moving warehouses, so we’re offering the biggest discounts you’ve ever seen in-store and online. Due to the nature of the sale, all sales are final.
This year KULE is having its first ever Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale, and it’s a good one. We’re featuring styles we’ve never discounted. This is an opportunity to add great KULE staples to your wardrobe that won’t go out of style. At a lower price, what could be better? They’re really good investment pieces, and we’re here to prove it 🙂.
For you cardigan lovers who like to layer! This striped Monica cardigan is a neutral layer you can style over a button-up shirt, turtleneck, tee, or cami.
The Monica Cardigan (on sale)
B Sides Jeans
G.H. Bass Loafers
The Len Tank
Tohum Necklace
The striped Banks sweater is a very cozy and soft wool/cotton blend. Styled with either lounge pants or trousers, even a skirt and heels, it pulls its weight all season. A classic KULE sweater with a modern twist and will never go out of style.
The Banks Sweater (on sale)
Alexandre Vauthier Trousers
Jack Erwin Shoes
Marimekko Bag
Raey Socks
Back to cardigans: the Knite cardigan packs a punch with its checked pattern but is easy to style with denim or solid trousers or make a set with the matching Tawny skirt (and maybe punchy red pumps 👠?) à la Sarah Clary.
The Knite Cardigan (on sale)
The Modern Long
Totême Trousers
Laura Lombardi Chain Necklace
Hereu Shoes
If you’re already in When Harry Met Sally mode, we have a fisherman sweater for you! The Verne sweater is a classic style done the KULE way. Nothing is cooler (Kuler) than cable.
The Verne Sweater (on sale)
Vintage Levi's Jeans
New Balance Sneakers
The Ribbed Smile Sock
Celine Sunglasses
A styling method straight from Nikki: “It doesn’t get cooler than wearing hoodies under blazers and coats. Our Oversized Hoodie in classic black is a cold-weather hero. Worn with trousers and layers, it’s casual but put together. It’s very comfortable, too.”
The Oversized Hoodie (on sale)
Isabel Marant Blazer
Spalwart Sneakers
Bottega Veneta bag
Victoria Beckham Trousers
The McGraw is 100% cotton made in Portugal. It features a banded collar that begs for accessories and layers—worn here with another classic style, the Russell cardigan, also on sale in all four colors 😉.
The McGraw Shirt (on sale)
The Russell Cardigan (on sale)
Khaite Jeans
Bembien Bag
Vibi Venezia
If you want the layering done for you, try the Chelsea sweater/shirt hybrid. One and done!
The Chelsea Sweater (on sale)
The Row Khaki Trousers
Belgian Shoes Loafers
Prada Bag
Wolf Circus Pearl Necklace
That’s not all! See more from our BFCM sale here. We can now officially say happy holiday shopping! 🛍️🎁🙂
There are many wonderful and talented people we are so proud to see wear KULE. Mei Tao and her husband Darrick Harris, who are longtime friends of the brand, are two of them. Mei has been working with Nikki as our editorial photographer — a visual magician if you will — since the beginning. Her husband Darrick, the Visual Director of Town & Country Magazine, is also incredibly talented. They’re a power couple with great style 🙂. Get to know Mei and Darrick a little better and see how they wear their KULE this Fall.
“We’re in Montreal in these photos. I was there for work and D [which is what Mei calls Darrick] came on the weekend to join me for a little fun getaway.” – Mei
Mei and Darrick have been together for 23 years. Darrick is a native New Yorker, born and raised, and Mei was born in China, raised in Brooklyn, and has been in New York since she was 10. The story of how they met? Darrick says, “She stalked me for years,” and Mei says, “He waited for years for me to be single to ask me out.” 💗💗
As for Mei’s connection to KULE, she’s known Nikki since 2011 and has been with us since. Mei is not only an incredibly talented photographer making magic behind the camera but also somewhat of a brand mascot who styles KULE as her own.
“My go-to outfit is a good pair of pants or jeans, a men’s style shirt, a navy blazer, and a good coat or trench and comfortable shoes.” – Mei
The Nelson Blazer
The Hutton Shirt
The Rox Trench
The Modern Long Tee
The Sinclair Cashmere Cardigan
The Raleigh Sweatshirt
“I’ve been working with KULE since the beginning. It’s been so much fun realizing the brand’s vision with Nikki through photos. I’ve been a big fan since day 1.” – Mei
Mei and Darrick both say they love to travel together and, as Darrick added, “we love to watch foodie shows together.” Speaking of food, they are two people who definitely know where to eat in NYC. Some standout places they recommend include Omen Azen, Aurora Soho, The Odeon, and Big Wong. You’re welcome!
Mei on Darrick’s style: “I’ve been dressing him for 23 years, but he does accessorize himself”
“[Finding time to be together] can be challenging. But as we are in the same business, we are often able to be in the same cities.” – Darrick
“We find the time — I like him.” – Mei
Follow Mei @taomeitao for some of her entertaining content, great style, and photos, and Darrick @delroyslim for his humor, behind-the-scenes of his job, travel, fabulous hats, and adorable family shots. Shop their outfits here🙂🙂.
Nikki’s love for travel stems from living abroad, visiting places for work, exploring with family and friends, and searching for inspiration. She recently went to Greece for the second time, and came back with memorable stories, experiences of great sights and food, and — lucky for us — travel tips and recommendations! Read on to see everything from her trip, including how she packed, the amazing places she went, and of course, the best spots to eat.
Nikki went to Greece with some of her family and friends. She spent a week in Mykonos followed by a week traveling to different islands. Between touring on foot, swimming, and dining, Nikki packed only what she knew she would wear. That included swimsuits, caftans or loose fitting dresses, pareos for the beach, flat sandals, and some workout wear.
Nikki says that slippery leather or plastic sole sandals aren’t easy to wear on the cobblestones in Greece, and recommends packing sandals that won’t slip and slide, like these from The Row, which she wore the most on her trip.
“I like challenging myself to wear every single thing I pack and I think I only didn’t wear two things. I wore a lot of Greece-appropriate white and blue, plus some of our colorful KULE items like the crochet Harmonie.” – Nikki
As for the food, Nikki says it’s the best. The seafood was a highlight, as everything is so fresh. One of her favorite restaurants was Spilia in Mykonos located on a rock, carved out in the water. You can go by boat to have the freshest seafood.
“Spilia in Mykonos is a restaurant on a rock, carved out in the water. You can go by boat to have the freshest seafood.” – Nikki
At the beach club near Spilia.
“I’m not a dress person, but I really felt they were so much easier and fit the island/beach vibe. I love this one by Bode. I also packed a floral one by Michael Kors, a green one by Lemaire, and a crochet one by Auralee” – Nikki
Nikki describes Mykonos as one big party and says that all the restaurants have music playing as you eat. There are plenty of nightclubs — her favorite being Scorpios — that are so fun and unlike anywhere else.
“I was at Mykonos for a week. It is a big party. All the restaurants have music playing as you eat. It’s so fun and unlike anywhere else.” – Nikki
“I wore a lot of pareos (I love KULE’s new striped silk one, Lisa Corti, and Totême) tunics, caftans, and dresses. It’s easy to wear them over swimsuits, my favorite of which are by Eres. The striped caftan I’m wearing here is by MIKOH. Sarah Clary turned me onto the brand. I cannot resist a stripe.” – Nikki
“Look at the size of the prawns! The size and freshness of the seafood was amazing.” – Nikki
“This is at Nammos in Mykonos for dinner. It’s a very cool vibe with a tranquil setting in the sand. We went with a big group, but it is also very romantic.” – Nikki
On the other islands, it was more about the scenery and serenity. The picturesque sights are incredible, with vibrant colors and crystal-clear waters.
“I loved Paros. It’s a port city that’s very young, vibrant, and fun.” – Nikki
“This is a cove in Polyaigos. I loved being in the water. We did paddle boarding and water skiing a lot. The waters are so beautiful and clear.” – Nikki
As for shopping Nikki says, “I got a pareo and a striped cover-up — go figure!” Other than that, she didn’t really shop. She says it’s mostly about the water and beaches, food, and exploring.
A specific spot Nikki loved and recommends going to — from the idyllic setting, to the architecture, design, and the views — is The Rooster in Antiparos. It was a perfect finale for her trip.
Featuring one of the views at The Rooster in Antiparos.
“The Rooster is in Antiparos, one of the most secluded islands in Greece. It’s so serene.” – Nikki
We asked Brooklyn-based wardrobe stylist Shelley Young (and her adorable two-year-old daughter Penny), who styles many of KULE’s photoshoots, to put together some stripe-filled outfits to inspire your summer dressing. Peep below for some fun looks courtesy of Shelley and little Penny 🙂☀️.
Shelley is a master at styling proportions. She pairs sweatpants with a crochet bra, or terry shorts with a striped tee and blazer. She also happens to have an adorable two-year-old daughter, Penny, whose style is enviable.
“So far, Penny lets me dress her and isn’t picky about any of it yet. I try to explain why we pair certain pieces together, why things work or don’t work, and I’ll give her choices to pick from. She likes clothing that she can talk about, so I try to call out all the details in order to win her over. All of this is purely a selfish effort to keep her happy while I continue to dress her in everything cute.” – Shelley
I always love the way Shelley mixes vintage and contemporary clothing. Her KULE terry shorts look so cool with our spaghetti tank + her bright green vintage blazer and sandals.
“I am a vintage junkie. I get a major thrill when I find something special for dirt cheap. Of course, that is nearly impossible in NYC, so I get my treasure hunting kicks when I travel. I love supporting small businesses, both locally (like KULE!) and online (Etsy and The RealReal are my happy place), and I try to do my part to heal our planet by buying used. Penny also wears a lot of vintage (mostly mine from when I was little, but also from Parachute, a wonderful little shop in Brooklyn) mixed with her favorite NYC brands, like KULE.” – Shelley
Shelley is wearing KULE Spaghetti Tank and Terry Venus Shorts, vintage blazer, and vintage Valentino peep toe flats; Penny is wearing a vintage swimsuit
The Terry Venus – Lemon
The Terry Venus – Poppy
The Terry Venus – Blue
The Terry Venus – Pink
The Terry Venus – Cream
Shelley goes for cotton and silks for summer. She says she likes flowy, breezy, and slinky. Muumuus, or tiny tops with loose high-rise shorts, and a crisp oxford or oversized blazer as a layer on everything for daytime.
“I am totally into the late 90’s early 00’s fashion that has come back around. Always lots of gold jewelry and tiny belts. And perfect sandals/slides and vintage baguettes à la SATC Season 2 + 3. Plus, most important of all, a summertime tan.” – Shelley
Shelley is wearing KULE Terry Venus shorts, red St. John knit blazer, vintage silk tee, and vintage Fendi ballet flats; Penny is wearing KULE Riley tee, Soor Ploom shorts, Parachute Brooklyn straw hat, and Salt Water sandals
With her two jobs – mom and stylist – her “to-go bag” looks very different day-to-day. As a mom, snacks are always in tow. “This child love to eat,” she told me. Also a portable plastic toilet and natural cream or salve (Penny likes to rub it on herself and her dolls).
“I have to set boundaries for myself and outside of those boundaries I have to let go of control. Which isn’t easy to do. I feel guilty for choosing myself or Penny over work. Before having Penny, working was so easy – the hustle, the dedication, the focus. Now not so much. At the end of the day I want to be proud of the choices I made, and that looks a lot different as a mom.” – Shelley
Shelley is wearing KULE Terry Venus shorts, vintage Gianni Versace cropped tee, By Malene Birger tan blazer, and Chanel slides; Penny is wearing KULE Charley tee, vintage handmade brown pants (made by Shelley’s grandma when she was a toddler), Capezio ballet shoes, and vintage barrette
As a stylist, Shelley always has bras, double-sided tape, all sorts of scissors and snips, a billion safety pins, lint rollers… so many things that she says her main kit bag weighs 70 pounds.
Shelley loves to cook and says it’s a meditation for her. She enjoys making tamales, her aunt’s red rice and tomatillo salsa, and her mom’s guacamole. She always makes southern black eyed peas and collards and cornbread for New Year’s Day (a tradition she carries with her from growing up in Texas). On days when she has less time to cook, she makes a lot of salads. Penny loves tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, charcuterie plates (chic!), peas, broccoli, fruit, and bread. She also adores smoothies.
“On the days that I don’t work, we spend most of our time outdoors or on the go. Usually breakfast at home…and then we are off to Brooklyn Bridge Park or Governor’s Island (NYC’s best kept secret), the Rockaways, or a nearby playground. We will picnic or eat somewhere with an outdoor space. We try to get out of town as much as possible. We are going to do a little roadtrip in California this month to see all our friends (my husband Ross and I lived in San Francisco before moving to NYC).” – Shelley
“I believe it is very important to take care of your clothing, so our house is always soaking something (everything) to get Penny’s stains out.” – Shelley
Inspired by Shelley and Penny? Shop their outfits! And don’t forget to make a smoothie in honor of Penny this week 🙂.
