Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lawrence and More Can’t Stop Wearing This Under-the-Radar Brand
It’s going to be everywhere in 2020.
Every article written about fashion since the end of August has mentioned Katie Holmes’s cashmere cardigan and matching bra, probably. Even writing out that sentence gives me déjà vu. But there’s a lot to be said about an outfit so expensive and inherently ridiculous that rightfully caused such a stir. People didn’t just want to talk about the absurdity of a cashmere bra; they wanted to own the cashmere bra. They wanted it so badly that it sold out hours after Holmes was infamously spotted hailing a cab in it. And as ostentatious as a $520 cashmere bra is, it also feels like a piece of clothing that’s all about what women want: It’s beautiful and comfortable and subtle and sexy.
If I had been living under a rock, I would have immediately assumed the bra was Céline. As Cathy Horyn wrote for The Cut, former Céline designer Phoebe Philo’s clothing weren’t so much for women, but about women. But I know it’s not Céline, since Philo left the label and no one makes clothes like her. And it’s not The Row, either (a fitting Céline alternative). The brand behind Holmes’s bra is Khaite, a new player in the “by women, about women” field.
Khaite is an American brand founded in 2016 by designer Cate Holstein. Four years ago, The New York Times described it as both a low-key label to know and one of the most interesting brands the paper had discovered. Yet it stayed relatively under the radar for the past couple of years up until that viral moment. In my opinion, it makes sense that the label’s only become more notable in the past couple of months; between Philo’s presence now fully cycled out of runways three years after her departure and the trends of the moment including tie-dye everything and bedazzled hair clips, fashion needs Khaite now more than ever.
As Holstein told Vogue after her spring 2020 show last September, she doesn’t design basics but “cherished objects.” There’s thick ultra-soft cashmere that looks like butter and denim with a wash so perfect it took years to master. It’s all very feminine but not very precious. So yes, Khaite has much more to offer than just that cashmere bra, and Holmes’s isn’t the only one to take note.
Jennifer Lawrence, Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber, Dakota Johnson, and Selena Gomez have all worn and re-worn Khaite. The label is the rare kind that appeals not just to celebrities, but to retailers and the fashion world alike. Everything it makes is something you probably felt your closet needed but couldn’t put your finger on, like a stretch cashmere polo sweater, a cotton twill midi dress or a crepe black satin shirt. Khaite is commercial, but it’s also too beautiful to not admire.
With increasing celebrity sightings in Khaite coupled with growing praise from the fashion industry, 2020 stands to be a big year for the label. If you’re still mourning the loss of Philo’s Céline or just want a beautifully made piece forever, now’s the time to buy Khaite before everyone else catches on.
Shop some of our favorite Khaite pieces below.
Khaite Kyle Relaxed Straight Leg Jeans
Shop now: $360; nordstrom.com
Khaite Circle Medium Leather Tote
Shop now: $1,560; net-a-porter.com
Khaite Jo Stretch Cashmere Polo Sweater
Shop now: $720; nordstrom.com
Khaite Viola Stretch Cashmere Sweater
Shop now: $680; nordstrom.com
Khaite Lace Inset Satin Midi Slipdress
Shop now: $1,380; nordstrom.com
Khaite Roberta Puff Sleeve Satin Top
Shop now: $880; nordstrom.com
Khaite Envelope Pleat Leather Clutch
Shop now: $1,260; net-a-porter.com
Khaite Kyle Ripped Relaxed Jeans
Shop now: $420; nordstrom.com
Khaite Vera Stretch Twill Blazer
Shop now: $1,680; nordstrom.com
Khaite Magdalena Reconstructed Denim Maxi Skirt
Shop now: $480; nordstrom.com
Khaite Kerrie Straight Leg Jeans
Shop now: $380; nordstrom.com