There was a moment, sometime in the last few years, when Khaite stopped being “a brand” and became something else.

You could see it happening in fragments.

Cool girls in SoHo were suddenly wearing navy Khaite coats with ballet flats.

And not to forget the Khaite cardigans that look deceptively simple until you notice the cut. Those have now reached icon status. Without logos or obvious statement pieces. Just well made clothes with an impeccable cut that made everything else look better.

That’s the thing about Khaite. It doesn’t dominate an outfit the way heritage luxury often does. Instead, it quietly sharpens it. The silhouette is a little stronger, and fabric a little heavier. The proportions just slightly more intentional. You don’t always recognise it immediately. But thats where the power is. If you know you know.

And that’s exactly how modern icons start.

The brand was founded in New York by Catherine Holstein and over the past few years it has become something of a modern cult label.

Not the loud kind of cult brand driven by logos and hype. More the kind that spreads through a certain type of woman.

Stylists. Editors. Chic substack girls.

That's how Khaite became one of the most interesting brands to watch at NY fashion week, with its own cult following.

My Khaite pieces tend to become wardrobe anchors. And I'm not he only one, as the brand has created quite some iconic items the last years. The Scarlet cardigan is probably the most famous example.

A simple ribbed cardigan that became instantly recognizable after appearing on Katie Holmes years ago. Since then it has become one of those pieces that keeps reappearing in modern wardrobes. It's minimal, practical and most importantly, structural. It's a cardigan, but it's not. It's an architectural version of a cardigan.

That's why it's such a favorite among those who appreciate minimal luxury fashion, a good shape and a fine line. It's in the details, it's in the design. What better than a cardigan to ground your investment wardrobe and to fall back on.

Another Khaite piece that has reached almost iconic status is the Lotus bag. Sculptural but minimal. The kind of bag that looks modern today and will probably still look modern ten years from now. No logo's or loudness, but done in a very chic Khaite way. It's actually quite practical in shape, easy throw on the shoulder for the women on the go. But the scarf inspired - I love this, how chic - design gives away that it's Khaite.

What makes Khaite interesting is that the brand does not rely on seasonal trends to stay relevant. The collections evolve slowly. Silhouettes sometimes repeat, sometimes evolve. Materials get refined. This creates something that is increasingly rare in fashion. Continuity when in comes to the identity of the brand. Evolution from one collection to the next. While Khaite is consistent in it's design approach and brand identity, it is also a lesson in unpredictability. As it continues to evolve the embodiment of the vision, from one collection to the next.

I like to think of luxury fashion the way some people think about investments. Every piece you buy is either an asset or a liability.

Some items quietly become part of your wardrobe for years. Others feel exciting for a moment and then disappear to the back of the closet.

That idea is exactly what inspired The Iconic Index - a framework I use at The Iconic Issue to think about luxury fashion pieces through two lenses: cultural relevance and long-term wardrobe value.

When you look at Khaite through that lens, something interesting happens.

From a purely financial perspective Khaite sits firmly in the luxury category. But unlike many luxury brands today, its value isn’t built on logos or status signaling.

It’s built on construction, fabric quality and proportion.

And that’s precisely why Khaite pieces are true wardrobe assets. They integrate easily into everyday dressing, they age well, and elevate everything you wear it with.

Which is also why Khaite is one of the brands I return to when I want to build the foundation of my wardrobe. Below you find the brand new curated Khaite pieces, aka all the best of Khaite.