Jane Mayle’s original label became a NoLita favorite after its 1999 launch, and the dresses still carry that feeling of a discovered secret. Silk crepe, jacquard, lace and floral prints make the occasion clear without turning the clothes into costume.

Who she is. Jane Mayle is the designer and founder of the label. The brand says she was born in London, moved to the United States as a child and graduated from Columbia with a degree in Literature. She opened her NoLita boutique and founded Mayle in the fall of 1999.

The original and the relaunch. Mayle was the 1999 line and shop. Maison Mayle is the relaunch, which Fashionista reported in 2016 with Barneys as its launch partner. The brand's own about page says she stepped away from fashion for several years before coming back to it.

The spelling. The name is Maison Mayle, with an i, and it is the same label. Maison is the French word for house, and it was added to the Mayle name for the 2016 relaunch.

Where to begin. The dresses are the center of the label, and the edit above runs from the Valdi cotton jacquard-poplin midi to the Pina lace-trimmed silk-crepe de chine and the Andalou floral-print silk midi. If you want one with print, the Batacalla has the scarf and ruffles. The separates and necklaces sit below the dresses.

Mayle describes clothing as storytelling, and the blouses, shirts, jackets and cardigans give the story a quieter middle act. Wear a ruffled or printed top with something plain, or let a sharp jacket interrupt the romance before it becomes too sweet.

The jewelry and belts are not afterthoughts here, especially the horn and enamel pieces that give the collection its slightly eccentric punctuation. A necklace or embellished belt can pull a simple dress into the Maison Mayle world without asking you to change your entire wardrobe.

Our honest take: Maison Mayle is best for someone who likes nostalgia with an edge. The dresses are the emotional center, but the separates and jewelry are how the label becomes practical rather than archival. If you take one thing away, choose one romantic piece and pair it with something unbothered.

For more in the same spirit, take a look at ILA Dresses and Jewelry and Victoria Beckham Dresses and Knitwear.