Kiane von Mueffling Left Finance to Create the Perfect T-Shirt

In ELLE.com’s monthly series Office Hours, we ask people in powerful positions to take us through their first jobs, worst jobs, and everything in between. This month, we caught up with Kiane von Mueffling, the Australian-born, New York-based fashion entrepreneur behind Sold Out NYC, the minimalist label redefining wardrobe essentials through her “less is more” philosophy (think: the perfect T-shirt, a crisp button-down, and not much else). Before launching her brand, von Mueffling was deep in the world of finance, spreadsheets, and strategy at Bain Capital. She’s come a long way since her early days washing dishes as a teenager. Below, she opens up about her professional pivot from private equity to personal style, what entrepreneurship really looks like, and why simplicity is always in fashion.

I worked as a dishwasher at a coffee shop in Australia called Bon Vivant, known for its sumptuous cakes. The pay was only $5 an hour, but I took real pride in every dish I cleaned. And the other thing that got me through the shifts was the fact that the barista was hot. Being able to serve people, lead with kindness, run an efficient workplace, and really get in there—hands dirty, washing dishes, staying on top of everything—it gave me so much exposure. And somehow, I managed to hold it all together and keep everything running, from the food to the final clean-up.

Corporate work never really felt like me. When I was a strategy consultant, even though I was good at it, something was missing. I craved that creative hit. But those jobs still gave me some of the most valuable skills I use today in fashion. I’m grateful for my analytical abilities—they’ve been essential. I think you have to take the good with the bad; even the challenging experiences served a purpose.

I often call myself an “analytical psycho,” because I absolutely love a spreadsheet. It gives me control over chaos. It helps me keep a very tight handle on inventory, forecasting everything meticulously from the bottom up, item by item. That level of control prevents overordering and keeps me from being stuck with excess product. In fact, we literally sell out every time.

Julie Rice, the co-founder of SoulCycle, once told me, “Don’t wait around for the billion-dollar idea, because you’ll be waiting your whole life. Just start something.”

At the time, there was this huge trend with statement T-shirts, and I loved them. I thought they were cute, and I’m pretty good at coming up with those clever, pithy sayings. It seemed like such a simple, low-risk idea. That’s really how it all started—there wasn’t much critical thinking beyond that. I liked the idea, so within six weeks, I went from concept to launching my own line of statement T-shirts. And I think this is what’s important—and still holds true today—about what I create: They’re things I actually wear and love. They’re true to who I am. Everything I make is something I’d wear every day.

I truly believe that everything is centered around grit and resilience. Especially as a woman and an entrepreneur, people often say it doesn’t matter how brilliant your idea is. You could have the best concept in the world, but on any given day, challenges will come at you from all sides, and they can be tough. The real question is: Who can withstand the most? How do you manage it all? You really have to have the stomach for it.

Then, of course, there are the basics: You need a solid business plan and to choose an industry or niche where there’s a genuine demand. It’s essential—don’t enter an overly competitive market with low barriers to entry; that’s a high-risk move. Another key reality is your financial situation. You’ll either need to secure investment or have enough savings to last until the business becomes profitable. You also need to accept that failure is a possibility. Finally, prepare yourself for the hard truth: You will be working like a dog.

We’ll continue to stay true to our brand DNA, which means everything we create will remain essential. In each category, we aim to produce one to three of the best items. You’ll see us expanding into more categories, but we always test and learn along the way. When we’ve had success in a particular area, we iterate on it—like our T-shirt in a sheer fabric or our beautiful Italian wool pull-on pants. Moving forward, you’ll see those pieces evolve in materials like linen, silk, and other premium fabrics, but the core of our brand will always remain the same.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.