KETTEL ATELIER Tops: A Guide to Upcycled Tops

Some brands start with a drawing, and KETTEL ATELIER started with fabric that had already lived a life. Laura Tønder is Danish, studied fashion in Denmark, worked with labels in Copenhagen and then took a job at Zara before leaving to build her own thing. She launched the label in 2023 after gathering vintage linens at flea markets at home. Kettel is her father's surname, which I find a sweet little detail, since he helped make vintage part of her world.

Today she runs the studio from Madrid, connected to her apartment, and she is the person who founded and funded it. The original instinct is still easy to see: old handkerchiefs and deadstock become clothing, and a stain or small hole can stay as part of the textile's history. A separate small-run line is made in Portugal and Italy, so not every piece has to be one of a kind. I like that it leaves room for craft without turning the clothes into museum pieces.

These are tops where the surface and the stitch do the talking. The Lena Knit Tie Top has a tie detail, so I would pair it with a plain straight skirt or trouser and skip any other busy pattern. The Talia Crochet Blouse and Ibiza Crochet Top lean into openwork, the sort of texture I like best over a quiet tonal layer. The Vanilla Top, Floral Longsleeve Top, Ista Top, Menorca Top, Flora Top in White and Klokkeblomst Top give you plenty of ways to stay in that soft, handmade mood.

Picture her taking the Talia Crochet Blouse to a late lunch with relaxed trousers and flat sandals, then keeping the same top on for a breezy evening. One thing I would do before leaving the house: choose the underlayer in daylight, because crochet looks more sheer outside than it does in a softly lit bedroom.

Here the lacework gets a longer canvas. The Dalia Crochet Dress and Clara Crochet Dress put crochet in charge, while the Lace Cotton Dress and Anna Lace Dress are two different ways to stay in that soft, textile-led mood. The Izora Dress and Allison Dress round out the set. I would keep the accessories plain and let the surface carry the outfit, then change the shoe depending on the invitation.

In my fashion dreams, she wears the Anna Lace Dress to a summer ceremony and throws a cropped jacket over it for the trip home. What I would skip is assuming a crochet dress is opaque. Check the lining and coverage first, because that one detail decides your underlayer.

This group is a welcome counterpoint to the dresses. The Katinka Skirt, Killa Skirt and Flora Skirt in White can start a quiet outfit with a plain tank and a sandal, while the Strappy Lace Trousers have enough texture to carry a simple top. The Menorca Trouser is what I would choose when I want the look less precious, and the Kita Crochet Belt Short and Izzy Shorts take the idea somewhere more casual.

Picture her going from daytime errands to dinner in the Isabella Jumpsuit and a low heel, which keeps the getting-dressed decision wonderfully short. With any pale lace, I would pick the underlayer first and build outward from there.

KETTEL ATELIER appeals to me because its romance has a little grit in it. The lace and crochet can look delicate, but the story starts with old linen, a flea-market find, or a textile someone else might have thrown away. That gives even the white pieces a sense of history instead of a bridal-only feeling. I would start with the top that makes me curious, keep the rest of the outfit quiet, and let the stitchwork be the reason I remember the look. Although I suspect I would end up wanting the dress too.