Powerhouse Jumpsuit in black cotton, $425, rivetutility.com
Rivet Utility, founded by Daun Dees, grew out of the daily dilemma of “what do I wear?” Dees discovered the secret to making getting dressed stress-free. “One zip, and you’re ready to go.”
Dees is passionate about the power of a jumpsuit in women’s lives and is on a mission to make getting dressed easier for women across the country. The brand’s versatile jumpsuits are dreamed, designed, and brought to life in Los Angeles using the highest-quality materials.
Rivet Utility Founder, Daun Dees, rivetutility.com.
She proves that a uniform doesn’t have to be purely utilitarian or a shapeless potato sack. “I feel sexy and confident in my jumpsuits. I’m showing my body in a way that I feel good about”.
“Rivet Utility does one thing, and does it extraordinarily well: jumpsuits. When Daun Dees set out to create her label, she did it with the goal of perfecting the one-and-done we all know and love.”
Goop.com
Looker Jumpsuit,$425, goop.com
Merging the worlds of sportswear, workwear, and fashion, Rivet Utility is the ultimate daily uniform. You can’t beat the versatility of a great jumpsuit. It’s an ideal blank slate that can look completely different depending on how you choose to wear it.
You can dress it down with sneakers or up with heels. All you need to do is change the accessories or how it’s layered and bring it from day to evening or summer to fall. But not all jumpsuits are created equal. In the end, it is all about the cut and fit.
Dynamo jumpsuit in oatmeal linen, $425, rivetutility.com
It took Daun two years to perfect the fit of her Rivet Utility jumpsuits. FYI, Daun, who stands 5’9″ and usually wears a size small, test-drove every single one, and she happens to be her own best model, as evident from her many Instagram postings.
Iconic Poster of Rosie the Riveter, amazon.com
Dees, a former schoolteacher and mother of five with no formal fashion design training, launched Rivet Utility in her home’s garage in 2020. Her “Aha!” moment came when Daun attended a Halloween parade at her kids’ school. She watched as a pack of fourth-grade girls dressed like “Rosie the Riveter” came out.
“There was something about watching those young girls exuding such confidence that was so powerful,” says Daun, who turned to a friend and said, “I am going to make jumpsuits.” So began Daun’s journey, but it was anything but an easy path to success.
Hotshot Playsuit in navy linen, $295, goop.com
A major flood in the LA area made it necessary for Daun to rebuild her home. Then came COVID. The summer COVID hit, Daun was in the Hamptons, and a friend said, “Daun, you need to launch your jumpsuits! The website went live a few months later, on September 27th, and it started growing organically.
“I was adamant about it resonating with people naturally and set out to have a great product where people would open the box and say that they underpaid for it and are psyched to have it. I want people to love it, feel good in it, and feel confident,” says Daun.
“Possibly the simplest way to get dressed in the morning”
Goop.com
Gwyneth Paltrow taking a mirror selfie wearing the Dynamo Jumpsuit in Black, $425, goop.com
Rivet Utility’s functional, chic, and effortless jumpsuits have an unapologetically laid-back, sporty LA vibe and bicoastal appeal. One high-profile fan and dear friend (she is a member of Daun’s “Mom Squad”) is Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth not only sells Rivet Utility jumpsuits on her popular Goop website; she is also a customer and recently posted a mirror selfie wearing the Dynamo in black linen.
Oprah Winfrey wearing Rivet Utility’s $425 white linen Powerhouse Jumpsuit, Instagram
Last July, Oprah shared an Instagram video of a charcuterie array that spanned an entire kitchen island. As she munched on a gorgeous selection of snacks, the media mogul wore the Powerhouse Utility Jumpsuit by Rivet Utility, one of her tried-and-true brands.
Showstopper Jumpsuit in black sequins, on sale now for $148, bergdorfgoodman.com
In addition to the Rivet Utility website and goop.com, the line is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and netaporter.com. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $265 to $490 (the bulk of the collection falls between $345 and $450).
New Yorker Jumpsuit, $450, rivetutility.com
Cotton canvas and stretch cotton blends are the mainstay of the line, but there are jumpsuits made of denim, linen, corduroy, jersey knit, stretch silk, and sequins.
Dreamer Jumpsuit in linen 365, rivetutility.com
The hallmarks of a Rivet Utility jumpsuit are the chic neutral color palette (black, white, ivory, oatmeal, navy, khaki, burgundy), the placket-covered center zipper, patch pockets (often playfully mismatched), and the slightly raised waistline, but there are some variations on the theme.
While Daun promises she will never stray from her successful formula by adding more categories to her collection, she keeps things fresh by adding different iterations.
Raw edged sleeveless Worker Jumpsuit, rivetutility.com
For example, Daun has given her bestselling Worker jumpsuit (the one that started it all) a summer makeover. The Sleeveless Worker, made of Japanese stretch cotton twill, is designed as a flirty take on traditional workwear with raw-edged detailing at the armhole and pant leg openings.
Expander Jumpsuit $425, rivetutility.com
There are long and short-sleeved playsuits, rompers (some in poolside-perfect terrycloth), and a few evening styles. The most current version is the strapless wide-legged Expander, $425, which Daun refers to as “the perfect summer night jumpsuit.”
Moreover, a number of exciting partnerships are on the horizon. At the end of the month, they will unveil a blazer jumpsuit designed in collaboration with Canadian company Smythe, and a collaboration with LA-based company Hudson Jeans is in the works.
Merci beaucoup for the article!
Thank you for featuring me and my designs in your article! What a lovely event and how many gorgeous ensembles!
How interesting! Bendel’s was always a favorite store of mine. Miss those days…Thanks for another great article.
Such a LOSS! I feel Bendels was to NY what Venice is to Italy.
Love the stories you create around elements of design!
Always love the look of a high “pussy “ bow. Especially now that I am older, it hides the neck…
Fascinating profile on Jennifer Creel—her jewelry designs are truly unique and elegant!
Thank you….yes!!!!!!
I can absolutely picture you in this trompe l’oeil style, Marilyn. Great article!
LOVE seeing the PAST making a strong fashion statement in the PRESENT!
Marilyn! What a wonderful and informative article you have written. I so loved Bendels, although (in my opinion) it was…