Rue Mercer: The New Label Making Button-Down Shirts (Very) Cool
In certain situations, the perfect crisp white button-down shirt has the kind of appeal that’s endless—it’s classic and instantly adds a dose of professionalism to any outfit. One thing that’s not so great? When worn on repeat, it can get really, really boring.
That was the idea behind Rue Mercer, a chic new label founded by French designers Pamela Semmache and Julie Luyindula. “As customers, we found ourselves often frustrated not finding a brand that focuses on blouses and offers a variety of choices for every occasion,” they told me. “We couldn’t find all the elements we needed in a shirt line. With Rue Mercer, we’re playing on duality: perfect tailoring with a loose cut, femininity and masculinity, a mix of fabrics and colors, simplicity and eye-catching details.”
Now based in New York where the entire line is produced, both women have some serious fashion cred—Semmache was a former model and Luyindula cut her teeth at Hermès.
I stumbled across the label on Instagram and was instantly interested not only because it seemed that they had been able to give the classic white shirt an effortless French-leaning makeover, but the prices aren’t bad for women looking for well-made staples: Most pieces fall between $200 and $300.
Rue Mercer sells options such as the Honore, a girlish-yet-grown-up look with short sleeves, mother-of-pearl buttons, and a large (interchangeable!) bow that we could see modern style influencers such as Alexa Chung sporting with high-waist skinnies or a miniskirt. Then there’s the Grace, which is a mix of shiny metallic silk and Lurex—very ’70s and very Parisian.
“The attention to details in our designs is a direct inspiration from our French background,” said Luyindula. “The Parisian woman is not loud in what she wears, she likes to wear simple designs but always with a perfect cut and the perfect detail that will make all the difference.”
See more of the duo’s chic take on classic button-downs below.
