Thirtieth birthdays are often turning points. Laura Cramer and Starr Hout met at NYU in 2000 and quickly became kindred spirits, discovering they were born a day apart. Upon graduation, Cramer pursued a career in branding and art direction, while Hout worked as a stylist for fashion glossies like W and Vogue. In 2008, they joined forces to launch their own label, Apiece Apart, which they hashed out on a drive from Austin to Marfa, Texas, to celebrate their 30th birthdays. “We saw a need in the marketplace for great basics that would flatter real women,” says Cramer, “We wanted to create pieces you could build a wardrobe upon in a really conscientious way.” That meant banishing styles intended for only model-esque proportions and rethinking the painted-on, body-con trend.
The spring collection is fresh in its simplicity: breezy palazzo pants, long blazers in muted pastels, a slimming tulip skirt, and an unembellished LBD. All pieces embody the label’s signature clean lines and long, modern silhouettes. (Certain looks call to mind Tilda Swinton.) The pieces are rendered in luxe — albeit pricey — fabrics, like sand-washed silk garbardine and washed crêpe de chine. “We’re attracted to the sort of woman who knows who she is,” says Hout, “someone with an exotic, eccentric confidence to her.” This fall, the co-designers will be introducing a new line of knits, including super-soft wool-viscose layers and looped wool vests. Apiece Apart is available at Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Steven Alan, Bird, Mick Margo, and Albertine, among others. Click ahead to see more from the spring collection.
