Miaou Tops: What I'd Actually Buy First

I have a weakness for brands that begin with a very ordinary annoyance, and Miaou's is jeans that never quite fit. Alexia Elkaim never found a pair that felt right for her and her friends, so in 2016 she made one herself, inspired by a Parisian vintage find and years of flea-market searching. Her own account traces how it grew from body-hugging denim into corsets, dresses and swimwear.

 

When she was living in New York, she used her lunch breaks to visit a garment-district shop and turn the idea into a real trouser. The first limited run was just 15 pairs, and it sold out. What stays interesting to me is that the vintage references feel personal instead of costume-like. These are clothes for a woman who dresses for her own reflection first, with room for flirtation, humor and a little mischief. I went deeper on a related idea in Lisa Says Gah Dresses and Tops: What I'd Buy First. I went deeper on a related idea in Sold Out NYC Tops: What to Buy First Today.

Cece Top and Mini Tee are the two easy ways in, the sort of fitted basics I would reach for on a Tuesday. Natalia Top adds another silhouette to compare. Libra Corset and Lila Corset lean into the close-to-body shapes the label is known for, and Frekka Corset brings in a turquoise floral print that is a lot of fun.

 

I like a fitted top with straighter trousers so the outfit keeps a little ease. Picture her heading to a late dinner in Frekka Corset, dark pants and a small heel, then wearing Mini Tee with faded jeans for a slower afternoon. What I would skip: any fit that needs constant readjusting. The point is to feel secure enough to forget about it.

Denim is where Miaou's story begins, so the pants matter. The Low Rise Flare Jeans make the vintage reference plain, while Josephina Pant, Element Pant and Zane Pant give you a few different shapes to try against what you already own.

 

A low-rise pair can work with a longer top or an open shirt, and a cleaner trouser balances a compact corset. In my daydream, she takes the long way home in jeans, a soft tee and an old jacket, stopping for a snack before the train. For a first pair, compare it with the one in your closet that you reach for most. I would skip a cut that only works with one pair of shoes.

Skirts and dresses are where Miaou's vintage instinct gets playful. Elektra Skirt and Micro Mini Skirt keep the hemline short, while Gigi Skirt and Natalia Dress offer other ways to wear the label's close-to-body shapes.

 

I would pair a mini with an easy tee or a knit so it feels lived-in, or keep the dress simple and let the cut carry dinner plans. Picture a warm evening that begins in Gigi Skirt, a cropped sweater and flat shoes, and ends with a late snack on the walk home. What I would skip is any skirt you would have to tug into place all night.

I like that Miaou has a recognizable point of view without asking every wearer to dress as the same character. Elkaim's story began with a real search for jeans that felt right, and her love of vintage still gives the clothes a personal spark.

 

Vintage and community are the two ideas I keep coming back to, and they explain why the corsets and denim can be playful without losing their everyday side. I would begin with the piece that makes your existing closet more interesting. Although I suspect the Lila Corset will win.