With a lot of irony and plenty of campy florals, Josh Patner and Bryan Bradley launched Tuleh in 1998. It was immediately embraced by New York’s social set, who appreciated their smartly spun retro prints and all-around snappy uptown dressing. Indeed, for many years, the Tuleh staff was its clientele, with the likes of Amanda Brooks and Lillian Wang von Stauffenberg punching in their time cards there. After Patner split in 2002, Bradley began to revamp the frothy, flowery frocks and went way, way dark and ironic—he went so far as to print “We is family” or a naughtier “Pussy” on T-shirts for the runway. But Tuleh’s faithful flock followed while the label also won fans of a cooler persuasion.

The Look
Tony uptown girls who often find themselves downtown.

The Designer
Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Bradley apprenticed at Calvin Klein and Anne Klein before starting up Tuleh with then personal and professional partner Josh Patner. He is one of the most colorful American designers: a bosom friend of many women who walk the lines between art and fashion, an impressive literature buff, and a lover of scotch and late-late-night e-mails to editors and buyers