kay me’s elegant winter coats

As the days get chillier, it’s time to think about the most important item of your winter wardrobe: the coat.

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Worn every day and seen by everyone, there’s no need for dull and boring outerwear – winter is your opportunity to wear a coat you absolutely love!

Here at kay me, we’ve reworked our best-selling elegant trench coats for 2019 and produced two beautiful colors for the season.

Our new coats feature all the stylish detail that makes them so original and such a hit here in Tokyo and beyond.

Taking elements from a classic trench coat and combining with the beauty of a wool-blend fabric, our coats are the perfect combination of style and practicality.

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With a full A-line skirt that sways with every step, you’re sure to turn heads!

Be the envy of all around with the stylish touches that make a kay me coat a timeless investment: the storm-shield and gun flap provide practical protection as well as a timeless military-inspired flair.

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kay me stylists suggest pairing our coats with print dresses in matching and contrasting colors, especially our retro-cute Kings Road print series.

Naturally, our coats also look fantastic with solid color items and suits, lending an extra special elegance to outfits of every day of the week.

Discover our more from our gorgeous coat collection here.

Winter flowers in Japan

While winter might be the season of snow, skiing and cozying up under kotatsu (Japanese heated table with blanket), here at kay me we’re hard at work preparing for the next year ahead and enjoying the beautiful nature that surrounds us in Japan.

Cherry blossom is emblematic of spring, but don’t forget that winter has its own share of beautiful blooms and pretty petals too!

Today, kay me stylists pick their favorite winter flowers and provide a selection matching dresses for a subtle taste of the beauty of Japan…

Camellia (tsubaki)

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With stunning petals in shades of red and pink, camellia flowers bring a much-needed burst of color to the winter landscape.

Our Tsubaki dresses are of course the perfect match! With a pretty camellia print in both red and blue, pair these dresses with simple but striking accessories for special occasions. For even more color, explore our solid color jersey dresses in rich reds and pinks.

Ginkgo (icho)

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One of our favorite signs of late autumn, the brilliant gold of gingko leaves creates a living carpet of leaves across the city as we say farewell to fall.

Capture the glow of gingko with our dresses in yellow floral prints, and wear with contrasting knitwear to stay warm all season long. Our silk dress in warm gold creates a stunning impression, and our patented washable silk means there’s no need to worry about dry-cleaning and more time to enjoy your special events.

Maple trees (momiji)

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The last signs of the gorgeous autumn foliage are still with us, and something that we look forward to every year.

Bring the warmth and color of maple leaves into you wardrobe with our charming Rice Shower series in red and green, as well as our solid color jersey dresses in suitably leaf-like orange. kay me stylists suggest pairing these dresses with with knits and outerwear in black and beige tones for an extra fall feeling even in the middle of winter.

Plum blossom (ume)

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The early cousin of cherry blossom, plum blossom’s gentle rounded petals let us know that spring is near and sure to grace us again soon.

For a true taste of traditional Japanese style, our 100% pure silk jersey Hana Asagi dress with shell-like bust design brings to mind delicate flowers against a cool winter sky. For a nod to the lovely variations of colors that plum blossom can be found in, take a look at our range of pink and purple dresses, from dark to light, and pair with matching kay me select stoles for a look that effortlessly channels the soft yet stark contrasts of plum blossom.

For more original florals and more, explore our print collectionsand don’t forget, kay me offers free global shipping as standard!

Knitwear for winter and beyond

Did you know that all kay me knitwear is specially woven in Japan just for us?

The washable wools that we use have been selected to provide the maximum of warmth and comfort through autumn and winter and into spring, and are thick and soft, perfect for keeping you cozy and comfortable in cold weather.

When the sun shines it’s time to wear fewer layers, but you can still enjoy our knitwear!

This week on the kay me blog, we take a look at some of our favorite knit styles for winter and beyond…

Jacquard knits

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Specially woven for kay me, our original jacquard rose design brings a floral feminine touch to your winter knitwear! A beautifully thick knit, choose from skirts and dresses in classic navy and warm sepia.

Dresses feature a solid top matching with jacquard weave skirt, with a soft round neck and long sleeves. Our knit skirts have a particularly stretchy waistband with a tight-fitting style that pairs wonderfully with our turtlenecks and matching zip up knits.

Bold and bright

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Embrace warmth in color as well as texture with our red and pink knit dresses and tops. A thick and solid knit, our “milano rib” knitwear is fully machine washable and certainly able to keep out the winter chill – wear with our warm underdresses for even more coziness.

Roll up the sleeves of the dresses in warmer weather, and these tops look especially fabulous paired with kay me print jersey dresses when you’re in need of an extra burst of color and vibrancy.

A touch of sparkle

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Last but certainly not least, our cardigans with sparkling buttons and tops with crystal detailing, both using genuine Swarovski jewels. Our cardigans are available in red, white and charcoal gray, and tops can be found in pink, white and charcoal gray too.

Wear our cardigans with everything from matching knit skirts to contrasting solid and print dresses, and simply drape over your shoulders any time you need a touch of warmth and comfort.

Don’t forget that kay me offers free global shipping as standard, so make this your perfect chance to try kay me’s wonderful washable knitwear for yourself!

Print Story – Christmas Floral Dresses

Hi everyone, it’s Yuko from kay me’s atelier team here! This week I’d like to tell you all about our new Christmas floral print…

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December is always the busiest time of year, so I want everyone to feel good and have a gorgeous time! How about a new dress as a reward?

We wanted to make a beautiful floral print with a lot of tones in it.

From this we created the design, although colour is such a important factor… What colour is suitable for December?

What colour would you like to wear for Christmas? We made a lot of practice prints as usual.

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kay me atelier staff had fun playing with the designs!

As Christmas is suddenly just around the corner, I recommended planning everything at double speed.

 

As a result of our intensive testing, we decided on pink flowers on an off-white base, and blue flowers on a black base.

As these dresses are made for winter, we chose a very soft and warm fabric that’s good for cold days.

The fine adjustments continued even after we decided on pink and blue, for example we tried changing the size of the flowers – the impression created was so different even when changed by just a few percent!

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We also tried adjusting the tone a little to more mint and lemon colours, as even though this dress is made with mid-winter in mind of course we’d like to be able to wear it all year round.

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Changing the colour of the stamen and pollen also makes the print look very different.

I named these dresses Victoria, Stephanie and Caroline – I think English names sound so elegant!

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(Caroline, Victoria and Stephanie)

Until next time… Yuko.


 

Take a look at our florals and nature print gallery for more pretty flower-inspired dresses!

Winter Outfit Layering Tips, kay me Style

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s all about keeping warm and cosy! Staying chic and work appropriate is often a concern for women here in Tokyo as well as overseas – but kay me is here to help with our quality fabrics that are comfortable and easy to care for, wonderful for a stress-free winter.

Let kay me guide you on how to layer up this winter for work days without compromising on style or comfort…

Step One: Warm Underdress

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Start with a good foundation – a base layer is key for keeping you warm and protecting against any chills. Our warm underdresses are available in charcoal for darker dresses and greige for lighter dresses. The separately-constructed top and skirt are made from different heat-insulating rayon blends and designed to hug the body while being soft and stretchy.

Step Two: Pure Wool

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When the mercury heads down, make sure to reach for one of our beautiful pure wool dresses or skirts. This winter we recommend our Navy Leopard and Office Animal print dresses, as well as our office-friendly slim fitting switch skirts in navy, light grey, beige or black. Simply pair these dresses and skirts with a matching jacket for easy early mornings, or mix and match with contrasting shades for an easily expanded wardrobe.

Step Three: Knitwear

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For those in need of an extra layer, our Japan-made knitwear is the perfect choice. Fully washable and effortless soft and light, our turtlenecks, cardigans and boleros can be worn for weekends as well as work day and evening events. kay me stylists recommend wearing our subtly sparkly knit jumpers with our pure wool suits for a lovely pastel winter look.

Step Four: Outerwear

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Princess lines or a padded trench? Choose your style from our range of pretty coats in classic A-line shapes and cute prints. Our wool coats are available in navy and white-grey, while our cotton-padded trench coats feature flamingos on a navy base, giraffes on a caramel base, and cats on a grey background – great for standing out from the crowd.

Swap a coat for one of our Vegan-friendly faux-leather jackets for weekend style on the go.

Step Five: Select Scarves

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The finishing touch to any kay me outfit, our kay me Select scarves have been personally chosen by Junko Kemi and expertly handmade in India by artisan craftspeople who also hand-weave for Maharajas.

Choose from cashmere, wool and silk blends, lace and sequins. kay me stylists love opting for all-navy evening outfits topped with a navy scarf, or varying wintery pastels with light suits paired with pale scarves. A great gift for someone special – or yourself!

Warm Dresses for Winter

November is fast drawing to a close, and yes – Christmas holidays and new year celebrations are just around the corner! We’re getting in the festive spirit at kay me with a selection of dresses and items that we love this season – keep reading to see our favourite dresses for chilly commutes and evening parties…

Wear to work

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(Monotone Leaf piping dress, Navy Switch dress, Navy V-neck tight dress)

Let our dramatic original prints guide your style this winter, and our pure wool fabrics keep you warm on your way to and from work. Choose from classic black and white, or try warm navy with our switch dress and beautifully handmade V-neck dress. Stretchy, fully washable and soft to the touch, our rich wool selection encompasses matching suit jackets and skirt as well as versatile dresses.

Wear at the weekend

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(Charcoal Grey turtleneck dress, Pink Milano rib knit dress, Cherry Python dress)

Comfort is the name of the game on days off, so feel cosy all day long in our knit dresses specially made in Japan. Our Milano rib knit dress in pink also has pockets, great if you forget your gloves! Perfect for Saturday brunch in the city, our Cherry Python dress is made from extra warm fabric without compromising on kay me’s signature elegant style.

Wear to an event

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(Black Rose 100% silk dress, Japan wrap dress, red cache-coeur dress)

Dressing up doesn’t have to mean feeling the cold! Made from 100% silk, our stunning Black Rose dress is inspired by the beauty of Japanese kimono. Pair our fit-and-flare cache-coeur dress in luxurious red with one of our warm underdresses, made with contrasting fabrics to create a smooth silhouette as well as keep you the perfect temperature.

Don’t forget to explore kay me’s knitwear selection for cardigans and knit tops, as well as our exclusive kay me Select range of handmade scarves.

kay me Colours for Autumn and Winter 2017

Here at kay me HQ, we love choosing which colours to focus on for each season. As always, we’re very inspired by Japan, and the changing seasons allow us to explore both trendy and favourite colours.

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Our pretty shades for autumn and winter 2017 are a great way to expand your wardrobe in a thoughtful way, as each pair well not only with each other but also with other neutrals, solid colours and prints.

Navy

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Many of our kay me best-sellers are navy, and it’s no surprise – this versatile dark blue pairs beautifully with white and cream for the summer and with caramel and pink for a splash of autumnal colour. This season brings our lovely A-line coat in navy wool, as well as our popular stretchy suits in rich wool, and new prints too.

Discover our navy dresses and navy items.

Pink

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Bold and bright or pretty and pastel? At kay me, we’re always in the pink and we’ve got you covered with florals and geometric prints, as well as solid colour dresses that are just as great for the morning commute as well as for evening events with just a quick accessories change. Autumn will find both lipstick pinks and soft pastels coming soon.

See all pink dresses.

Grey

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From knitwear to princess coat-dresses, and from silver to dark charcoal, there’s a grey for everyone. Grey doesn’t have to be cold: wear with navy and rich bordeaux for warmth or white and lilac for cool beauty. Add a kay me Select scarf and warm underdress for extra layers on chilly days.

Click here for grey dresses and knitwear.

Coordinating Knitwear Outfits, from the kay me team

Our super stylists at kay me HQ in Ginza have been hard at work putting together lots of great outfit inspiration with our knitwear collection. As with all kay me items, everything is machine washable, non-iron and wonderfully soft and stretchy. You won’t find any scratchy sweaters here – just simple classic knit dresses that can be dressed up or down your way. We’ve provided some inspiration here, and of course we’d love to see your outfits too – tag #kayme on Instagram to share your style.

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(Milan Rib white, faux-leather and knit biker jacket, Milan Rib pink)

Imagining a date night, our stylists chose our white Milan Rib knit dress paired with our black faux-leather riders jacket for a cool look that will definitely keep you warm on a winter evening. We also suggest adding your favourite pair of ankle boots and a faux-fur scarf for a touch of rock and roll. If you’re off to a glamorous destination, our Milan Rib knit dress in pretty pink is a great match with frosty glittery accessories, perfect for gazing at the Christmas illuminations.

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(Blue Mucha wrap dress, off-white cache-coeur knit top, Milan Rib black)

Heading to a post-work party? Our stylists suggest wearing our Blue Mucha wrap dress with our off-white cache-coeur knit top for extra warmth, and you can certainly never go wrong with a pair of killer heels and a matching clutch. Our Milan Rib knit dress in black is sombre enough for the office, and the addition of a vivid scarf creates visual interest and takes this outfit to the next level – a simple and effective way of making the most of each dress.

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(Milan Rib black, Milan Rib grey)

Our black Milan Rib knit dress gets a make-over! Paired with bold yellow accessories, this eye-catching outfit is perfect for trips to the theatre, visits to art galleries and in warmer weather a stroll through stately gardens. Not to be left out, our stylists have paired our grey Milan Rib knit dress with navy blue shoes and scarf, creating a more subdued but elegant colour palette.

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(Navy turtleneck, Milan Rib white, knit bolero black)

If you’re jetting off for the weekend and wish to stay stylish on a flight, look no further than our soft and cosy navy blue turtleneck knit dress – fully machine washable, crease-proof and stretchy, simply add low-heeled ankle boots and a statement (non-metallic!) necklace to complete the look. For those hoping to add some on-trend knitwear to their office wardrobe, kay me stylists have selected our Milan Rib knit dress in white paired with our black knit bolero. A patterned silk scarf adds a hint of colour, while keeping you warm and comfortable.

Keep in touch with kay me on social media (InstagramFacebookTwitter) for more tips from the kay me team.

Florals for Winter, from kay me

Here at kay me, we love a beautiful floral print, so much so that we’re not ones to reserve our flowers only for spring and summer! We’re happy to introduce our new winter florals, three dresses that capture kay me’s lovely original prints and are a great choice this winter season.

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(Crisantemo, Tiny Flower, Rose Labyrinth)

First up is our super Cristantemo dress in kay me signature cache-coeur style, featuring a flower print inspired by traditional Japanese family crests. The circular shapes contrast with the wood-block style petals, and the indigo shade is one found in ancient dyeing techniques found in Japan. Made from double-faced fabrics, this dress is guaranteed to keep you warm this winter – pair with our stretchy white faux-leather biker jacket to contrast traditional and modernity in one outfit.

Our Tiny Flower print dress is a firm favourite at kay me HQ this winter, with the small print just the right side of busy, and lending itself well to coordinating with our knit bolero in black and grey with matching tights, or with bold coloured tights for a more casual setting. As with our Crisantemo dress, our Tiny Flower dress is also made from extra-warm fabrics with the reverse in plain black.

Finally, our Rose Labyrinth dress sees traditional Japanese indigo meeting a more fluid floral design. The mix of positive and negative roses make for a striking print that’s just as beautiful in the office as at outside events – this is certainly a desk-to-dinner dress that makes for a fuss-free day.

As with all kay me items, these dresses are also machine washable and crease-resistant, and fully responsibly handmade here in Japan.

Winter Event Inspiration, from kay me

Although spring and summer may be the seasons known for their celebratory events, autumn and winter also have their fair share of reasons to dress up and spend time with friends, family and even coworkers and business associates. With the season in mind, we’ve put together a selection of our favourite kay me dresses that are great for winter weddings, elegant dinners and other festive occasions.

100% Silk Contemporary Kimono Dresses

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Edo Murasaki, Toki Michelle, Tokiwa Midori

Washable, non-iron, soft, stretchy and made in Japan – our 100% silk dresses have to be felt in person to capture the luxurious feeling and see the sheen of our patented and premium silk line. Exclusive to kay me, these dresses highlight not only the skill of our trained artisans who make every kay me dress in Japan, but also the authentic lineage of kay me from founder Junko Kemi’s grandmother’s kimono shop in Osaka.

Cache-coeur Dresses

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Cache-coeur in mineral blue, violet and red

Our cache-coeur dresses are a year-round favourite, and it’s easy to see why: with a selection of colours to flatter all skin tones and a classic fit-and-flare shape, these dresses can also be tied in a variety of ways. Ballet shoes or boots, textured tights or bare legs, minimal jewellery or plenty of pearls – accessorise these versatile dresses your way.

Printed Dresses

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Utopia, Nocturne, Blue Mucha

We’ve never met a print we didn’t like, and with good reason! Top picks for this season include our classic Utopia wrap dress, a firm favourite in Tokyo, Nocturne’s monotone florals that are perfect for transitioning seasons and even a signature wrap dress featuring out Blue Mucha design – simply add a matching black jacket for effortless style or a contrasting white jacket for even more impact.

Underdresses

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Charcoal grey and greige

We’ll let you in on a big secret – have you ever wondered how Japanese women manage to look so elegant despite some pretty chilly temperatures? The answer is kay me’s new warm winter underdresses in charcoal grey and greige (grey-beige), using different thickness of fabrics to create a smooth silhouette and an extra warm under layer to provide protection from the cold. We recommend the charcoal grey for darker dresses, while the neutral greige tone works wonderfully even under light-coloured dresses.