New York, NY — November 20, 2015 | Le Cou Launch: Re-Introducing the Dickey as a Beautiful, Practical and Chic Wardrobe Basic. Le Cou launches an e-commerce website, and a Kickstarter campaign, to introduce their new collection of women’s dickeys. Polished, Figure-flattering and Versatile: that’s the promise of these revolutionary little shirts.
Le Cou (www.lecoulecou.com), the only fashion-forward apparel brand dedicated to offering the dickey as a beautiful, practical and chic wardrobe basic, will launch their e-commerce website and Kickstarter campaign (www.kickstarter.com) on November 20th, 2015. The dickey has been identified as an emerging trend, recently covered by industry-leaders such as The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, InStyle, Elle, and Bloomberg Business.
By definition, a dickey is a versatile article of clothing that, when worn under another layer, gives the impression of a full shirt without adding unwanted bulk to a woman’s frame. Business partners Jessica Wingate and Elizabeth Azen Andia are long time devotees of crisp collars and the perfect button down – but when they went in search of a dickey to rival their favorite shirting brands like Steven Alan or A.P.C., they found that the category simply didn’t exist at that level of fashion. They created the Le Cou collection to offer a modern product that would seamlessly integrate into women’s existing wardrobes. The founders are quick to differentiate their product from dickeys of the past, noting that Le Cou dickeys are not ‘false shirts’ – they’re real, they’re small, they’re finely tailored, and they offer all of the look, and none of the bulk of traditional button down shirts.
Le Cou Co-Founder Jessica Wingate: “The Le Cou dickey is more than a small shirt. It’s the solution to our common challenge of getting dressed. Our dickeys eliminate unwanted bulk, gaping buttons, bunched up sleeves, tight shoulder seams – and offer women a polished look and tons of versatility.”
Le Cou Co-Founder Elizabeth Azen Andia: “The dickey is the holy grail of layering. We’ve designed our dickeys as a thoughtful update on a classic women’s fashion staple, making them beautiful and modern, with lots of options to work with your style. And? You don’t have to lose 10 lbs. to wear it. Le Cou dickeys work with the body you have.”
Le Cou dickeys are made with high-end shirting fabrics, either 100% cotton or 100% silk, and are manufactured in the United States. The collection launches with four collar styles, in a variety of colorways and patterns.
The collar styles are varied:
The Wakefield, a jaunty point collar, is available in white, black, pink, denim and royal blue gingham.
Olympia, also available in a variety of fabrics, is a classic pussy bow with chameleonic qualities. It has long tails that can be tied in a multitude of ways, from large and small bows, to drapey long scarves, and even a conservative turtleneck with a side knot.
Uma is a sharp, fold-over low mock neck that zips up the back. Available in denim, black and a special edition, Uma asserts a fashion-forward look.
Miette is feminine and flouncy – a modern take on a traditional ruffle, slightly larger than predecessors of this style. Made with 100% silk and features covered buttons.
Le Cou dickeys are available in three sizes (XS/S, M/L, XL–1X) that span traditional women’s (US) sizes 0–20. They’ve added adjustable side straps that allow women to customize the fit to their bodies, offering flexibility where women need it most. The founders feel that Le Cou dickeys will appeal to a diverse range of women, emphasizing that this innovative product is appropriate for any body type. For women who have a hard time finding blouses that fit properly – whether because of broad shoulders, a large bust, weight around the mid-section, even pregnancy – the Le Cou dickey offers access to fashion that fits.
Le Cou dickeys are made with high-end shirting fabrics, using 100% cottons and 100% silks, and are manufactured in the United States. The collection launches with four collar styles, in a variety of colorways and patterns.
Recent Media Quotes
“For working wardrobes, they’re genius. Tucking a collared shirt under a sweater or dress adds polish. It also adds bulk. And sweat. And for a larger-chested lady, it’s impossible to find a blouse that doesn’t gap across the front. A dickey solves these problems.” – Emma Rosenblum, Bloomberg Business, The Dickey Is Back: Make Your Office Wear More Stylish
“…we have a feeling that it’s only a matter of time before they become a closet staple.” – Michelle Persad, The Huffington Post, Dickies Are The Nerdy Fashion Trend That’s Coming Back
“‘Layering, without the bulk,’ [Michael] Kors said, pointing to the bright white collars that neatly dressed up his deco knits and prints – some so form fitting that a full shirt would have indeed ruined the look. […] In today’s world, their purpose, as Kors noted, is to add a bit of versatility to a specific look.” – Eric Wilson, InStyle, Now You Know: Dickies Are Back in Fashion (Yes, Really)
About Le Cou
Le Cou is a start-up apparel company co-founded by long-time friends Jessica Wingate and Elizabeth Azen Andia. Based in Portland, OR and Brooklyn, NY respectively, they work in collaboration to design and produce Le Cou collections.
Founder Bios
Jessica Wingate has spent her career working with $200M+ high-end retail brands as a Buyer, Business Consultant, Product Development Specialist and Director of Sales for companies such as Design Within Reach, Bludot, and Heartwork. She is strong believer that new is not always better and often times the simple ideas are the ones that mean the most in our lives. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her artist husband Hannes and their daughter Ivy.
Elizabeth Azen Andia is a New York-based Design Director, Brand Strategist and Designer, with a client roster that ranges from Nokia, to Princeton University and The Getty Museum. Elizabeth founded her design studio, EA Projects, in 2005, and brings over two decades of form-making and cultural production to this endeavor. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Ramuntxo, and their two young boys, Wren and Dashwood.
Le Cou on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com
See our online store: www.lecoulecou.com
Press Contacts
(Portland) Jessica Wingate, jessica@lecoulecou.com, 503.515.6820
(New York) Elizabeth Azen Andia, elizabeth@lecoulecou.com, 917.371.0845
