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Bold coverups, tiny bikinis, breezy silk dresses- those are the kinds of things you'd expect to be designed in The Sunshine State. True, we are America's capital of resort wear, but as a local you don't always want to spend your day in a caftan. Enter InTheBlack, a Boca-based clothing brand that's bringing sleek minimalism to South Florida.
The two-year-old brand is manufactured in the U.S. and definitely has a Helmut Lang kind of vibe. You'll find mostly tops, all in black or white and all simplistic in nature, save for an interesting mesh cutout here, or an elongated flap of fabric there. It's designed and operated by a mother and daughter team, Marilyn Graff and Alek Chalal, who built it together at a time when college grads weren't really finding jobs. Alek had just graduated from business school and Marilyn had an interior design background, so with their unique set of skills the two set out to create sleek, simple clothing that could transcend ages.
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Mesh long sleeve top, $138
"In the South Florida area or even New York for example, you have these in-shape more mature women who don't necessarily want to dress like mothers, but they are mature adults so maybe they need something a little bit more conservative," says Alek. "It blends a younger aesthetic with a more mature style. It's where sophistication meets edge."
Most shirts retail between $120 and $140 and are currently sold only online. But the team has big plans for the future, so don't be surprised if you find InTheBlack at your favorite local boutique very soon.