Frank & Eileen first came onto my radar via Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex was known to favor the brand’s renowned button-up shirts, famously wearing one to a royal tour Down Under in Australia in 2018). I count myself lucky that, over the years, I’ve had the chance to meet the brand’s founder, Audrey McLoghlin, in person and learn about the craftsmanship, comfort and wearability inherent in her signature design.
But beyond the button-ups, I’d never tried Frank & Eileen’s extensive range, which includes denim, lounge-style pants, even knitwear. I knew it had long-garnered rave reviews from friends and strangers (and OK, Julianne Moore), which is why when the store opened a brick-and-mortar location on the Upper East Side of New York City late last year, I knew I had to drop by to test the full scope of Frank & Eileen’s offerings IRL.
Don’t get me wrong: Its button-ups were top of my list as I entered the beautiful and thoughtfully designed boutique (a handwritten love letter between Audrey’s Irish grandparents, who put the Frank and Eileen in Frank & Eileen, is framed in the stairwell; there’s also a secret candy bar hidden away that’s chock full of Irish-made sweets and snacks). But I was excited to experience core pieces from the rest of the collection, too, and see how they looked on someone 5’2”—the ultimate test.
What followed was a try-on session where I felt whisked away to the likes of Montecito; also like I suddenly had a wardrobe that would fit right into a Nancy Meyers movie (#goals). Here, my favorite petite-friendly pieces from Frank & Eileen.
