“We’ve been together for 10 years, so it’s about time,” joked Kasell at a fall preview in their Chelsea studio. The proposal, which took place around Christmas under the Washington Square arch, could have been a scene from a forgotten Nora Ephron movie. Remembering the moment when he saw Richie walk toward him, collecting roses from friends and family along the way, Kasell admitted: “I was like ugly crying.”

Even as the pair embark on a new journey by solidifying their union, coincidentally, Tanner Fletcher is breaking up. This season, the brand introduced an affordably priced tier they’ve dubbed “Cabin Wear,” which a PR rep likened to Polo Ralph Lauren.

Only last month, Lauren broke his own rules at the menswear shows in Milan, presenting Polo and Purple Label together to highlight all the various points where those two lines converge. It made for a strong statement about the way real people shop and dress today, which is why Tanner Fletcher is smart to follow a similar path.

“We’re trying to hit every mark because our customers want the lifestyle,” explained Kasell. “We’re from the Midwest, so the idea of ‘Cabin Wear’ felt nostalgic to us growing up, like what our dads may have been wearing hunting or fishing.”

Butching it up a bit, Richie and Kassel layered flannels, denim and chore jackets that dad might like with higher-end collection pieces throughout. Mallards and ducks were among the leitmotifs, appearing on a collection suit as tiny antique pins, for example, and elsewhere woven into a Cabin Wear sweater. It came in a shade of pink similar to that of J.Crew’s viral Fair Isle crewneck.

Naysayers called it “emasculating,” but Tanner Fletcher would never shy away from blurring gender lines. Here, the designers held firm on the bygone femininity that makes their brand feel special, coming through best in their limited assortment of evening looks (collection, obviously). One standout was a black velvet gown with whipped cream ruffles that outlined the body like Man Ray’s Le Violon d’Ingres.

Similar to both J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, Tanner Fletcher taps into the comforts of Americana, and the Cabin Wear model will allow Richie and Kasell to explore it in many facets. Hint, hint: athleticwear could be next. Let’s just hope they come up with a better name than “Gym Wear.”