A woman with dark hair and sunglasses posing outdoors against a white wall with windows, wearing a black button-up shirt and white pants.

Mei Lin

Mei Lin had us locked in the moment we hit up Daybird, her fried chicken spot in Virgil Village. Then when we met her, it was all over, and we knew we wanted to design something with her…and her dog Katsu.

This Chef/Restaurateur/Dog Lover was too cool for just an apron so went deeper in the chefs closet for this one. What Mei Lin really wanted was a work shirt that “I could wear out in the wild straight into service and out again,” something she could “literally wear anywhere!!!”

Woman wearing sunglasses holding a white jacket on a hanger on a rooftop with buildings in the background.

We looked in our archives, referenced some of her favorite brands like Comme Des Garcons, and came up with this shirt we lovingly call The May Shirt. We loved her so much we also did a shirt dress version of it as well.

The shirt features an oversized peter pan collar, custom button placement with red stitching, an oversized chest pocket with red bar tack stitches, blouson sleeves, a lower back hem, and side seam buttons for versatile layering & styling. With this shirt, it’s all in the details.

Woman with black hair in a high ponytail wearing sunglasses and black jacket holding a small, fluffy tan puppy with a pink harness outside on a sunny day.
Woman in white athletic clothing holding a small brown dog on a sunny rooftop with a blue sky and urban buildings in the background.

1 Minute with Mei Lin

Worst uniform you’ve ever had to wear?

Hahaha a branded logo shirt with khakis (while working for a big retail store).

What do you usually wear when you’re not behind a stove?

Haha currently a tennis skirt and cut off t shirt.

1 piece of clothing you can’t live without?

My leather jacket.

1 inspiring thing you saw last week?

Petra.

Other than Daybird, where should I eat in LA?

Kato restaurant!

Favorite eating city(s) in the world?

Tokyo, Hong Kong, Barcelona, London.