With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen. Enter Just Browsing: We’re taking you into the fitting room as we preview the newest collections from some of our favorite high-street brands and contemporary labels. We’ll get into fabric and quality, fit and feel, and so much more as we make our way through the shop floor. Happy scrolling (and strolling)!
Daniella Kallmeyer is a name I’ve had firmly on my radar for a long time now. Having played an active part in her label’s launch on Net-a-Porter (where I was market director in 2024 prior to joining Vogue), I remember the exact collection and item (this satin jacket, to be precise) that had me realize we could no longer gatekeep Kallmeyer from the Net-a-Porter customer. And rightly so. While Kallmeyer is often mentioned as a new name to know or one to watch among the New York fashion scene, she launched her eponymous label 12 years ago, in 2012, and opened her flagship store on the Lower East Side in 2019, reminding us all she’s less a new name and more here to stay. But where Kallmeyer is new (and certainly staying) is Madison Avenue. I had the pleasure of an early-morning in-store try-on with the new fall collection shortly after the opening.
Now shopping in-store is never easy. It can be crowded, loud, overwhelming, and sometimes chaotic. Over the years I’ve learned that, for me, an enjoyable shopping experience isn’t just about coming away bag in hand; I need a calm environment that will keep me measured while whipping clothes on and off—which, as you know, can sometimes leave you feeling deflated. To say Kallmeyer delivered on calm would be an understatement. The perfectly formed space is part retail store, part gallery, thanks to interior designer Louis Rambert, with the racks perfectly filled (options, but not too many) and the staff friendly (but not overly familiar). The furniture, objects, and art left me feeling culturally satisfied and inspired to finally finish furnishing my apartment. Now enough about the store; here is everything I wore and added to my wish list during my visit.
Sheer Delights
I generally play things quite safe in my wardrobe. But when I do want to keep things interesting, I’ll add texture or layers. Sheer fabrications have taken off this year, and these scarf-detail tops are an easy way to add interest and color all at once. I loved this whole story. Had I been five inches taller, the sheer yellow caftan dress would have come home with me. The knit jacket in stretch wool that I styled over the tops was a perfect fit and a great workwear alternative to the blazer.
The LBD (Long Black Dress!)
Is the hunt for the perfect black dress ever over? I can confirm yes, but only after my visit to the Kallmeyer store. This cotton style was everything you want from a black dress and so much more: removable straps, built-in corset, no alterations required (I’m five-foot-two), and it had pockets. Need I say more? Finding something that I don’t need to alter is a rarity, so I’ll be adding these other styles to my wish list for different occasions.
Signature Shirting
I truly love shirting. It is one of the items in my wardrobe that I own the most. But now that I have the basics covered (white, blue, black, etc.), I’m looking for something with a little more interest, and interest is exactly why I go to Kallmeyer. The brand is classic but never boring. Design led but never trendy. I loved that these shirts felt easy but still delivered on excitement. The plaid has become somewhat of a signature, but I loved this striped cotton-poplin style. Worn here with a slip skirt, it’s great for tying around the waist in the hot summer months or a good shape for layering over a T-shirt.
Matching the Drapes
Along with plaid, draping has become another Kallmeyer specialty, and this turquoise dress very quickly became a notable Kallmeyer item that you saw everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It sold out almost immediately this summer. Now they’ve recut the style and added new top options. The white was a little more in my wheelhouse and perfect for the office. I tucked it into a pair of formal trousers and looped in a belt.
Suiting Separates
Suiting is not an easy category to get right and make different. With endless options out there, you need to give it a reason to be. I loved this sleeveless suiting vest that has a boxy fit, perfect for layering. I added my favorite Lescarf that was tied around my handbag to the neckline and paired it with a satin ’90s maxiskirt. For me, the most interesting way to breathe new life into suiting is to style it with unexpected separates and extras. Adding flip-flops kept it less serious.
Finishing Touches
Yes, the clothes in the store were beautiful, but it was the finishing touches—in the interiors and accessories—that kept me inspired. From the interesting artwork and unusual chairs to the tasseled curtain ties, gold fish door handle, and these versatile key chains and necklaces meet belts, I wanted to scoop it all up in the Kallmeyer travel tote and be on my way!
#Browsing #Whats #Kallmeyer #Vogues #Executive #Shopping #Director
