Last Wednesday Kit and Ace, a Vancouver-based company that creates casual clothing for men and women, described as "luxury you will live in," opened its first St. Louis location at 304 N. Euclid. While Kit and Ace and lululemon, also located in the CWE, are related by marriage (read more about the founders on the website here), Kit and Ace makes clothing that's as comfortable as lululemon's yoga attire, but more sophisticated.
Whenever a new store opens, Kit and Ace brings in the Copper Studio, above, a pop-up shop airstream, to build brand awareness about technical cashmere, a washable fabric used in its clothing. The Copper Studio was parked outside the shop Thursday and Friday afternoon.
Munro Drummond of Kit and Ace, below right, was in town from Ottawa to support shop directors Nicole Benoist (formerly of Collective MX, downtown), above right, and Anna Spector, not shown above (formerly of the CWE's stylish shop Mezzanine).
Because the CWE location is small, Drummond described the shop as a "t-shirt studio." Prices for women and men's clothing range from $58 for a tank top to $118 for a shirt. The store is restocked frequently, so check in often for the latest styles and colors. Rumor has it that the CWE location may carry Kit and Ace skirts and shorts too.
In each Kit and Ace store, local artists are offered an opportunity to display their work on what is called "The Wall." In the CWE location, a copper light fixture shown above was created by Nick Adams whose company, mademan design, specializes in architecture and fabrication.
St. Louis artist Peter Manion's painting Make an Offer is also on view.
I had been visiting the website ever since I heard that Kit and Ace was coming to the neighborhood, and so was anxious to feel the fabric and see if technical cashmere would be wearable in our summer weather. The fabric is as soft as a baby's tee (my descriptor for maximum comfort), and for me, comfortable to wear on cooler days and in air-conditioned spaces. It's easy-care too, which is why the neon sign behind the desk, "time is precious," is prominently featured in all Kit and Ace stores.
It's a fun place to shop with wonderful and helpful staff and most of all a great addition to the neighborhood.
Kit and Ace, 304 N. Euclid, Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., [email protected]