The Founder of Sincerely, Tommy Has the Cool New York Wardrobe We’ve Always Wanted

It’s been four years since we last checked in with Kai Avent-deLeon, and *a lot* has happened since then. The Sincerely, Tommy founder moved into a new brownstone apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, just a stone’s throw from her mother and grandmother, and she and her husband welcomed an adorable baby boy, Ché, right before the new year. Plus, her fashion concept store is bigger and more successful than ever. You know, just a few important life milestones. When we stop by her home, we’re excited to find that her sense of style is more defined than ever, with plenty of silk slip dresses, biker jackets, and Isabel Marant python boots (she’s quite the shoe collector). The New York native was quick to remind us why this city is home to some of the best style on the planet. “You have to have a very strong sense of who you are because it is a competitive city,” she explains after slipping into a pair of thigh-high Celine boots and a white Simonett dress. “There are so many creatives here, and there’s just a certain level of cool that you have if you’re from New York. It’s just effortless.” Combing through her double-decker closet, it’s easy to see how her fashion sensibilities have informed the cult-favorite Sincerely, Tommy. Like the shop, local brands mix with big-name labels effortlessly, and as we watch Avent-deLeon assemble her three looks, it’s clear just how much she embodies that perennially cool New York vibe. Check out the rest of her wardrobe below, and learn how she balances the joys and challenges of succeeding as a young entrepreneur—not to mention being a first-time mom—plus her hot take on New York Fashion Week and how designers are living up to their promise to become more inclusive. And don’t forget to shop pieces inspired by her closet here.