Christine Cardigan

Founded in Los Angeles in 2008, Rails began with one exceptionally soft plaid shirt and a simple idea: combine the relaxed ease of California with the refined style founder Jeff Abrams discovered while travelling through Europe. That signature fabric quickly developed a devoted following, turning a single shirt into one of contemporary fashion's most recognizable collections.

Today, Rails is just as well known for its dresses as its iconic shirting. Beautifully cut, incredibly comfortable, and made from the brand's signature soft fabrics, they're the kind of pieces that work just as naturally at a summer wedding as they do on vacation or out for dinner. The collection has an effortless quality that feels polished without ever looking overdone.

Fabric remains the heart of the brand. Rails develops many of its own textiles with trusted mills, creating the soft-washed finishes and lightweight drape that people immediately notice the first time they put one on. It's no surprise the brand has attracted a loyal celebrity following—including Beyoncé, Kate Moss, Jessica Alba, and Taylor Swift—but the real appeal is simpler than that. Once you own your first Rails piece, it's easy to understand why so many people come back for another.