I tested Marcella, the edgy basics brand NYC cool girls swear by — now I get the hype

If there's one thing I'm always on the lookout for, it's the perfect black tee. Marcella NYC's specialty is basics that are anything but basic — they always have an unexpected twist. That's definitely true of the Leonie Top, which features a sharp diagonal cutout at one shoulder for a peek of skin.

The first thing I noticed about this tee is that the French organic cotton jersey it's made out of is super soft. The dropped shoulders and boxy silhouette give this tee some modern appeal without taking away from its timelessness. I plan to wear this one with vintage-wash straight-leg jeans, leather leggings, and denim skirts.

One thing to note about this tee: It definitely has an intentionally oversized fit. I'm typically a size small, and I probably should've grabbed an XS. Whether you size down or not, though, just depends on personal preferences and how you plan to style the tee.

I appreciate nothing more than a piece of clothing that does double duty — because it saves valuable space in my wardrobe (and my suitcase when I'm traveling). Not only that, but I can feel good investing in these types of pieces knowing I'll get double the wear out of them.

That's where the Belmont skirt comes in. Because it's thoughtfully designed with a foldover waistband and the perfect midi-long length, it can be worn both as a high-rise maxi skirt and as a midi strapless tube dress. The short slit is meant to be worn at the back, but I found that I could play around with the placement and position it front and center or even angled to the side of my leg.

The Belmont couldn't possibly be more comfortable — it's made with lightweight, breathable European French terry with a touch of elastane for stretchability. This is the kind of piece I can wear year-round, too: during the warmer seasons, I'll pair it with a cropped concert tee, and come fall and winter, I'll layer on a chunky sweater and some Chelsea boots.

I couldn't resist snagging another one of Marcella NYC's basics with a twist — and while the Felix top may look a simple crewneck tee in the front, it has a flirty crossover cutout design in the back. The Felix is made with the same ultra-soft 100% organic French cotton jersey as the Leonie and has a similarly slouchy fit. So, again, I'd advise sizing down if you want this to hang closer to the body. Pro tip: I also like knotting the extra fabric in the front to make this more of a cropped, fitted tee.

I've been pairing the Felix with faded, distressed black wash jeans and floaty knee-length skirts, but it's also a great layering tee under a blazer or cardigan.

Neglecting to mention Marcella NYC's shoes would be a cruel and unusual act of gatekeeping. The line features everything from chunky leather loafers and pointy mary-jane flats to strappy heeled sandals in vibrant hues and lace-up sneaker boots. But it was the chic Celeste Mules that instantly caught my eye. Mules have been having a major moment in recent months, and it's not all that surprising — they have the coverage of a close-toed shoe with the convenient slip-on style of a sandal, offering the best of both worlds and making them the perfect shoe for transitional seasons.

The Celeste, like many of Marcella NYC's other shoes, is handcrafted from 100% Italian leather. The pointed toe has a visual slimming effect on my foot, and the modest 1-inch kitten heel is super reasonable for day to day wear. I love that these shoes came with a dust cloth for storage and a replacement pair of heel caps to pop on for the sake of longevity (especially since I plan on wearing out these heels pretty quickly).

Very often, I find that pointy shoes feel suffocating on my wide feet — but that definitely wasn't the case here. The Celeste is among the most comfortable heels I own, and I was able to walk around in all day long with no aching, blisters, or other issues.

While these mules come in neutral go-with-anything shades like black and cream, I opted for the dreamy Santorini blue, which is surprisingly versatile. These add a fun pop of color to an understated fit, like a white tee and jeans, or a black cotton sundress.

Marcella NYC has a charming backstory. The cofounders developed the idea for the line on their first date at a New York City Italian restaurant. Cofounder and creative director Siyana Huszar says fashion has always been in her DNA: her grandmother, Marcella—the brand's namesake—was a prominent designer in Bulgaria. A

fter moving to New York City to pursue her career, Huszar realized she couldn't find clothing that reflected the sophisticated, modern New Yorker she aspired to be.

"That's when it hit me: my love for fashion and my personal frustration weren't just random—they were the perfect recipe for something bigger," she told Business Insider.