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To elevate or tone down an outfit, accessorizing is key. For some of us it’s a piece of silver or gold jewelry that does the trick (or perhaps both, because why not?); a sleek pair of sunglasses or a bright scarf in the wintertime for a pop of personality and a statement belt for added edge. But for those with an eye for the littlest of details, like Jenni Lee, founder of the luxe loungewear label Comme Si, it all boils down to one’s socks.
After graduating from college with aspirations of a career in finance, Lee’s plans were abruptly derailed by the 2008 financial crisis. Undeterred by the setback, she moved to New York City and swiftly pivoted towards the PR world. “It was actually a really good turning point for me,” she says. “It made me think about what it is I really want to do in life, and I really wanted to work in fashion.” Lee’s career took off in the beauty and wellness space where she worked with brands such as Diptyque, Sisley, and Tata Harper. She rose through the ranks, leveraging her expertise to secure a position as head of brand and marketing at men’s grooming company Harry’s. Despite these achievements, Lee remained steadfast in pursuing a career in fashion.
Growing up in Arizona, Lee was inspired by her grandfather’s work ethic as an entrepreneur, specializing in importing and exporting goods between Italy and Korea. His influence, combined with the shared cultural values of between Italians and Koreans and her love for fashion, served as the catalyst for her to launch Comme Si in 2019. “In Italian and Korean culture, there’s a lot of focus on family, food, design, and fashion. And when I was thinking about the identity for Comme Si, I wanted it to be a very personal thing for me.”
Quality craftsmanship and attention to detail are at the heart of Comme Si. Each sock color, material, and design element is thoughtfully selected by Lee herself to ensure every style can complement a look. The brand instantly resonated with shoppers, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Lee faced a major challenge as her factories, which were located in Northern Italy, were shut down. “I had just launched my business and there was a bit of uncertainty around when we would be getting our next shipment,” she recalls.
As people transitioned to working from home in their pajamas and loungewear, Lee found herself reaching for her husband’s boxers. “They re just comfortable and really spacious, and also a little gross,” she joked. In an unexpected twist, she saw an opportunity to create a more polished version of boxer shorts designed for both men and women—in addition to her wide array of luxe socks. She reached out to a family friend from Toronto, Canada, who owned a tailoring shop. Given that their operations were also impacted by the pandemic, they joined forces to breathe new life into their businesses. “We partnered with them to take some of the beautiful Italian shirting material that s used in fine suiting and translate it into luxury loungewear.”
Despite the setbacks Lee faced, determination propelled her forward. Just last year, Comme Si opened a popup in Brooklyn, New York. And just this week, she expanded her loungewear repertoire with a line of shirts, proving that these hurdles only fuel her drive.
Gray Scales
I love a monochromatic look and I actually think working with different shades of the same color is a really interesting way to make it not look like one block of color on your body. While gray isn t exactly neutral, I think mixing materials and shades of gray are what makes this outfit interesting.
The Hero Coat
I love investing in a statement coat because you can really wear whatever you want underneath. I’m wearing a Hanes sweatshirt and a pair of Lululemon workout leggings, but because the coat is the focal point, no one will ever know and you’re comfortable on the inside.
Mixing Metals
I am a fan of mixing silver and gold. I always do it, and a lot of my watches are silver, but I always wear gold bracelets with it. I have this initial necklace that I usually never take off. It’s been trendy lately to do this color testing on what colors suit your skin tone best. I ve never gotten an actual consultation done before, but I ve always wondered like, am I a gold girl or a silver girl? But I believe I’m both, so I just like to mix them together.
Luxe Loungewear
I’m very excited about these loungewear tops that we just launched. This specific one is an Italian cotton flannel in gray herringbone which you typically see in suiting materials or coats. And I actually think that it kind of makes this wearable outside of the home. I wear this to pick up my son from school, I wear it out to dinner, I’d even wear it out to a party—it s great because the material is so soft and comfortable like a pair of pajamas, but the herringbone pattern and the tailoring of both the shirt and the pant make it feel much more like you could wear it outside.
Go for Bold
Usually my day to day consists of more neutral colors, but I love this look for going out in the evening and for special occasions. I do like to play up color in a bigger way. I think the reason red works well here is because it’s really soft. It s a cashmere sweater, and I think red in a fuzzy or thick yarn-like texture is a really nice way to wear it without feeling intimidating by it, especially if it’s with a sweater and a skirt.
Pearls for Everyday
I find that layering a pearl necklace with something gold, like a longer gold or even silver necklace, makes it feel a little bit more casual. I think a solo pearl necklace is a statement in and of itself. It’s super classic. But for a look like this—a daytime look for going to meetings—layering a pearl necklace makes things more laidback. And the pearl necklace was a push present for my husband when I had my son! So it’s very sentimental to me, and I wear it a lot.
Surprise Pops of Color
This skirt I’m wearing is floor length, so you actually can t see my shoes, but I love it because when you’re sitting down and you cross your legs, you might get a peep of color from the sock. Even with pants, I love just having that little glimpse of color that’s not exactly in your face but still noticeable. Whenever I m in a meeting I think it’s like an occupational hazard. I like to look and see what people are pairing with their shoes or what colors they might be wearing. So again for this outfit, because it’s very classic and neutral, I thought it was fun to just add a pop of color under the skirt where you would only see it if you crossed your legs.
