T-Knits & Friends, with Beverly Nguyen
Photographs by Beverly Nguyen. Words by Alice Cavanagh.
Beverly Nguyen
In a new series of portraits, the stylist, editor and longtime friend of &Daughter, Beverly Nguyen, photographs her close circle at home, at work, or on their travels, in pieces from the T-Knits collection. The series has the warmth and intimacy of a family album – when someone who knows you well is behind the lens.
"All of these people have something really interesting and personal going on creatively, and they are evolving with such intention – they are all living in this moment," she says of the shared creative energy of the group with whom she often dines, holidays, and wanders around the streets of New York.
When taking her own portrait in her new home in the Lower East Side, Beverly felt nostalgic for her childhood in Orange County, California. "Wearing this T-shirt took me back to that moment of growing up by the beach, when you get in the car and throw a top on over your swimsuit, and you still have a towel wrapped around your waist," she says of the Long-Sleeve Ecru T-Knit.
That spontaneity runs through each style – simple, but considered. Knitted from organic cotton crepe yarn, they hold their form yet have a flattering, lightweight drape. "My style tends to be more formal and buttoned up, so I like that they have this polish, and work with tailored pants or bare feet," says Beverly.
Below, the group of friends talks about their style and how each of them has made it their own. "Everyone I photographed is so comfortable and confident in their taste. I love the way they each wore it so differently," says Beverly. Beverly wears the Long Sleeve Slouchy T-Knit in Ecru and the Short Sleeve Slouchy T-Knit in Tomato Red.
Dominik & Isioma
Photographer Dominik and creative director Isioma are photographed in their studio in New York.
Isioma Iyamah "I think I have three subconscious rules for getting dressed. One: layers, layers, layers. Two: contrast – mixing high and low, oversized with minimal. Three: either go fully tonal or add off-piste pops of colour, like chartreuse, acid green, poppy red, or Capri blue. Though this might be more than three rules.
"When I reach for a T-shirt, it's really about how I want to feel in that moment. Comfortable, but easily dressed up or down depending on what you pair it with. I would wear this with a good pair of shorts or a flouncy skirt as the days get hotter. I have some seaside travel coming up later this summer, and I can already picture it over bikini bottoms."
Dominik Tarabański "I love wearing a uniform, and I will wear a T-shirt anytime, because I am all about comfort. But it's perfect for a late-night summer walk." Dominik wears the Long Sleeve T-Knit in Midnight and the Long Sleeve T-Knit in Aqua. Isioma wears the Long Sleeve Slouchy T-Knit in Red Stripe.
Neada Deters
The founder of LESSE is photographed at home in Brooklyn, New York. "T-shirts fall into the 'essentials' category for me. I am really particular about the cut and material of these pieces, as they are the ones I reach for most. They must be a perfect fit and cut. I will wear a T-shirt every other day. It's the perfect way to balance the formality of tailored trousers, which are my uniform.
"This T is lightweight, soft to the touch, drapes beautifully – and elevates the cut's simplicity. I'll be packing it in my carry-on for summer. It will be with me for days, cycling around New York, long dinners in Paris, and after sunset swims off the rocks in Hydra." Neada wears the Long Sleeve T-Slouchy Knit in Midnight.
Alex Tieghi-Walker
The curator and gallerist is photographed in Provence. "I'm a low-maintenance man. I mostly wear workwear because I'm lugging furniture, painting, or hanging lights, so my clothes generally take the hit. I love a long-sleeve T, especially something with a sportier edge. As I push 40, I've been leaning more into sportswear – football shirts, rugby shirts – dressing the way I did as a teenager. The shirt felt right in that vein. I love the retro stripes.
"I've got some fun travel coming up. My boyfriend and I are about to drive from New York to San Francisco via Louisiana and Texas, and then I'm taking the train from London to Naples via Paris. This shirt is going to be a staple – something easy to throw on for a spontaneous dinner with friends." Alex wears the Long Sleeve Polo T-Knit in Midnight Stripe and the Short Sleeve Slouchy T-Knit in Green.
Judi Wong
The director of operations at The Odeon, Cafe Luxembourg and Cafe Cluny is photographed in her ceramic atelier. "After all these years, you'd think I'd have a ritual for getting dressed, but I can be quite chaotic when deciding what to put on. I do tend to wear the same things for a week or two and then move on to a new look, though that's often weather-dependent.
"I'm most definitely a T-shirt person. A few decades ago, a boyfriend once told me the sexiest outfit on me was a T-shirt and jeans. I've been reaching for one every day ever since. From this collection, I loved the colours, which happened to pair perfectly with what I was already wearing that day. The fit was comfortable, and the feel was so soft – perfect for a day at the pottery wheel and everything after.
"This summer, I'll be in Deià, Mallorca, for a week-long pottery workshop, then out to Ojai, California, to visit a friend's tortoise sanctuary, and on to Vancouver, where I'm from originally. T-shirts will absolutely be in the suitcase – at the potter's wheel, cycling, feeding tortoises, hiking, eating, and laughing with family and friends." Judi wears the Short Sleeve Shrunken T-Shirt in Pale Pink.
Kate Berry
The US Editor of Cabana Magazine and creative consultant is photographed at Nine Orchard Hotel. "Before I get dressed each day, I check the weather and my schedule, and while I'm in the shower, I mentally map out the day. Will I be at home, or running between appointments and meetings? Do I need to go from day to night, or will I have time to come home and change? That shapes the direction of the look – though more often than not, comfort wins.
"A T-shirt is almost like underwear to me. It has to be comfortable – loose, or seamless if something fitted is going over it. Depending on the style, a T-shirt can make an outfit look relaxed and cool without trying.
"I'd wear this style over a bathing suit at the beach, with or without shorts. With a pair of loose garden trousers or a cotton skirt, while pottering around outside or running errands around town. It's that kind of piece – endlessly useful, never overdone." Kate wears the Short Sleeve Shrunken T-Knit in Green and the Long Sleeve T-Knit in Midnight.
