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[title]RECOMMENDED: Most stylish New Yorkers
Adele Berne, 33, and Mike Kuhle, 36; Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; co-owners of Epaulet (144 Orchard St between Rivington and Stanton Sts; 212-228-3626 ● 231 Smith St between Butler and Douglass Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-522-3800 ● epauletnewyork.com)
Berne’s personal style: “Bold and classic, a marriage of masculine and feminine. I usually let one piece do the speaking, whether it’s the shoes, colorful pants or a printed jacket. I keep my accessories fairly simple to rock any look.”
Kuhle’s personal style: “Mod and ska with a small dose of British dandy and Italian casual.”
Berne’s style inspirations: “Living in New York, my staff of dapper dudes, color and polka dots.”
Kuhle’s style inspirations: “Michael Caine, Quadrophenia, Paul Weller, Free and Easy, the Specials, Marcello Mastroianni, the Clash, Boardwalk Empire, Godfather II, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Public Enemy, Gorilla Biscuits, Wu-Tang Clan, Styleforum (styleforum.net) and Tumblr (tumblr.com).”
About their store: “We sell artisanal menswear and footwear crafted exclusively in North America and Europe. We offer a sharp fit, standout style and uncompromising quality.”
Berne’s favorite stores: “Ninth Street Haberdashery (346 E 9th St between First and Second Aves; 917-265-8833, 9thsthaberdashery.com) is an incredible vintage clothing store where you can always find a beautiful and unique item from the pre-1950s.”
Kuhle’s favorite stores: “Leffot (10 Christopher St between Greenwich Ave and Waverly Pl; 212-989-4577, leffot.com) is hands down the best men’s shoe store in New York City, if not the entire United States. Grit N Glory (186 Orchard St between E Houston and Stanton Sts; 212-253-2775, gritnglory.com) has great coffee, heavy-metal clothing and pomade. I bought an original photo of Axl Rose holding an enormous 1980s cell phone there. BookCourt (163 Court St between Dean and Pacific Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-875-3677, bookcourt.com) is an independent bookstore that keeps it extremely real.”
Berne’s signature item: “Carmina (carminashoemaker.com) wing tips.”
Kuhle’s signature item: “Plaid trousers. I have about 20 pairs of them.”
Kuhle’s favorite NYC designers: “Ouigi [Theodore] from the Brooklyn Circus (150 Nevins St between Bergen and Wycoff Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-858-0919, thebkcircus.com) is a brilliant guy. He looks at Americana/ivy style with a fresh eye and urbanizes it with some Brooklyn attitude.”
How her style has evolved: “What I love about style is the constant evolution, but what I’m not so fond of is looking back and wondering what the heck I was wearing. I used to be a dancer and was creative through movement and wore clothing I could sweat in, with an elastic waistband. Ten years later, I now find my outlet through my shops, and I absolutely express my creativity and mood through what I wear.”
How his style has evolved: “I traded out sneakers for shoes and polo shirts for dress shirts. I put more thought into how I dress and I take more pleasure from it.”
Berne’s favorite salon: “Joe Martino at Orlo Salon (34 Gansevoort St between Hudson St at Greenwich St; 212-242-3266, orlosalon.com) turns my insanely curly hair into something chic.”
Kuhle’s favorite salon: Damian’s Hair Styling (417A Court St between 2nd and 3rd Pls, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-596-6902) is an old-school barbershop run by a masterful guy from Southern Italy. He charges me $12, but I always give him $20 and tell him to keep the change because he does a great job.”
Kule’s favorite spa: “We go to Relaxing on Smith (289 Smith St between Sackett and Union Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-522-6288) for massages. Those people are so strong—they will absolutely kick your ass with a tui na back massage. They have good prices, too.”
Follow Elizabeth Denton on Twitter: @elizabethann1