From can't-miss restaurants and hidden boutiques to coastal rituals, the creative behind the stripe-inspired resale brand shares her perfect Newport itinerary.

Long before launching her newest venture, Julia Gall had already built a career around a discerning eye. The writer and stylist has spent years uncovering fashion's hidden gems, and now she's channeling that expertise into Stripes Newport, a curated resale destination celebrating timeless striped pieces. We caught up with Gall to talk about her favorite places to eat, shop, and unwind in Newport, Rhode Island, along with the inspiration behind her latest business.
You can shop all her <a href="https://www.stripesnewport.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorite stripes online</a>!&nbsp;

L'OFFICIEL: Newport has become such a summer destination in recent years. For someone planning their first visit, what’s the first thing they absolutely have to do?
JULIA GALL: To anyone visiting Newport for the first time, the must-do first stop in my opinion is The Cliff Walk. It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful views on the East Coast and a lovely way to stretch the legs after traveling. The Forty Steps always makes for a great photo, and if you don’t have time to do a full mansion tour, you can get a quick peek around a lot of the big ones. I love watching the surfers do their thing near The Breakers after a summer storm.
LO: What does a perfect summer day in Newport look like for you from morning to night?
JG: My perfect summer day in Newport starts early—I have a toddler and a dog who's basically my other toddler, so sleeping in isn't really an option. We head to Van Zandt Pier for a walk, a quick run on the beach, and a dip in the water before strolling through the Point's cobblestone streets. Once the morning rush dies down, we'll stop at Nitro Bar for an iced dirty chai (my second—or third—of the day), while my kid enjoys a blueberry muffin and my dog cleans up the crumbs. After lunch and nap time, I'll catch up on emails in the backyard or water my plants before we wander downtown, popping into shops like Lazuli, Loren Hope, and Zürner Oceanic. The afternoon usually ends with Charter Books and ice cream from Get the Scoop. Later, my husband and I meet up for date night—whether it's a NewportFILM screening, a glass of wine at Castle Hill, or pizza at Mother—before finishing the evening with a cocktail at the Vanderbilt rooftop and, if we're lucky, a beer on the front porch with friends.

LO: Which restaurants do you find yourself returning to every season? Any under-the-radar spots visitors might not know about?
JG: My top three restaurants for summer in Newport also happen to be my top three year-round choices. I’m a firm believer that Newport is a lovely visit any time of year, so bookmark these for another season too. Giusto’s modern Italian menu changes frequently with seasonal ingredients, and the pasta never misses. The Black Pearl at Bannister’s Wharf is my happy place—whether it’s lunch or a frozen mudslide on the patio in summer, or clam chowder and mussels inside during winter. A slice of heaven to me is ordering a patty melt, fries, and coffee Awful Awful (a.k.a. milkshake) at the counter at Newport Creamery. My dad went there as a kid over 70 years ago, and it brings me joy that I’m able to enjoy it too. For seasonal bucket-list bites, I love taking out-of-towners to brunch at the Chinese Tea House at Marble House overlooking the Cliff Walk, grabbing a hot dog at a Newport Gulls game, or having a turkey club on the patio at La Forge facing the grass courts at the Tennis Hall of Fame.
LO: What are your favorite beaches in the area, and what makes each one unique?
JG: My kid-friendly beach choice is Third Beach in Middletown (the town right over from Newport), which faces a bay, so it’s relatively chill and has rocky tide pools to discover sea creatures. My adventurous beach choice is one of the coves at Beavertail in Jamestown (over the bridge), which are kind of treacherous to reach but truly magical and mostly private (I don’t gatekeep!). The dramatic rocks and strong currents give it a rugged, almost European vibe. Rhode Island can definitely surprise you!

LO: Newport has such a distinct style. How would you describe the fashion aesthetic of the city during the summer months?
JG: Aside from seeing a daily parade of summer whites now that grass court season is in full swing, Newporters love to keep things light and lively. I seldom notice anyone wearing head-to-toe black. Block prints, pops of color and stripes are mainstays for year-round locals and the summering population this time of year. I also absolutely love seeing visitors lean into preppy, nautical vibes during their visit. It truly makes me happy that people want to dress in character here! I thoroughly appreciate the effort.
LO: What’s your favorite thing about Newport in the off-season that summer visitors rarely get to experience?
JG: I love Newport in every season. I honestly hate traveling for long stretches because I don’t want to miss any of it! Newport in the fall light is truly exquisite, and it’s really peaceful. Plus, dogs can go on the beach then.&nbsp;
LO: Your love of Newport and New England style is clearly woven throughout your new venture, Stripes Newport. When did you first realize stripes had become such a signature part of your personal wardrobe?
JG: Stripes have always played a big part of my year-round wardrobe but when I was working full-time as a magazine editor in New York, I wore them through a much edgier lens and with much more uncomfortable footwear. I still have a lot of those pieces, which are remixed and chopped-up striped classics by Sacai, Junya Watanabe, or Marc Jacobs, but I pair them with more obvious coastal classics like fisherman sandals, boat totes, and patchwork jeans. Still, sometimes the discerning eye of a passerby will take a second look and want to know more information about the striped number I’m wearing, which is so satisfying. This is where I got the idea for Stripes Newport. Everyone loves a stripe and everyone wants to do it in their own way and I want to help them do so.

LO: When sourcing pieces, what are you looking for beyond simply a striped pattern?
JG: I’m a fashion nerd. There’s a joke that if you need to remember a specific look from a specific Prada collection, you ask me—I’ll know it in seconds. My parents are doctors, and I feel like I have the same cataloging brain, but I use it for runway looks instead of lifesaving information. I’m always thinking about designers’ interpretations of stripes, especially houses like Jean Paul Gaultier and Sonia Rykiel, and how differently people make them their own. I’m constantly hunting down pieces from specific collections online or stumbling across gems in thrift and consignment shops. I also love '90s mall brands like Gap and Esprit for their incredible quality. I’m interested in affordable, secondhand pieces that are well-made, well cared for, and still feel relevant. I hope fashion continues to embrace existing materials to create something fresh and one-of-a-kind—I love an upcycled, patchwork, reworked aesthetic, even if it sometimes makes me look like a nautical scarecrow.
LO: Finally, what’s the most exciting striped piece you’ve found recently that you’re still thinking about?
JG: There are too many pieces I’ve been sad to part with. Each truly speaks to my soul. But there might be a tie for my two favorites that quickly have come and gone but one is a Prada skirt from the RE16 collection that was a patchwork masterpiece featuring prints of rabbits, cars and a mix of cotton and wool stripes. The other is a ’90s Esprit mockneck heavyweight navy long-sleeve tee with striped sleeves and these amazing felted letterman-style patches of a scallop shell and stars. I definitely cried happy and sad tears when they sold. But I know they will be loved and honestly have good faith that another set of them could come my way. That’s the beauty of secondhand: the right pieces will find you at the right time.

The Ultimate Newport Guide, According to the Founder of Stripes Newport

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