Our Story
Our
Story
A love letter to the coast — and the community of women who live, create, and gather along its shores.
"We believe the coastal life isn't just a place — it's a feeling. And every piece we carry is designed to bring that feeling home."Create. Celebrate. Elevate. — Kim Thomas, Founder
Connecting is her
Superpower
After beginning her career on Wall Street, Kim Thomas quickly pivoted to follow her creative instincts — launching kimPrints in 1998, a design studio celebrating the timeless sophistication of Southern New England's shores. What started as a love of design evolved into a 25+ year career creating and marketing products that celebrate coastal living and the art of connection.
In 2016 she founded Shorelines Illustrated, and in 2020 launched New England Coastal Creative — uniting brands, entrepreneurs, and destinations through content, media, and live events. Coastal Necessities is the natural next chapter: a return to her design roots, and a curated platform where makers and brands she genuinely loves can reach the NECC community and beyond.
Through affiliate programs, content creator partnerships, and media outreach, Kim connects her ever-growing network with the people, products, and places that make the coastal lifestyle worth living. Every brand on this site has earned its place — and every purchase you make here supports the women behind it.
When she's not designing, connecting, or chasing the next great coastal story, you'll find her in Greenwich, CT with her husband of 25 years, Alex — fondly known as "Mr. Kim" — and their two not-so-little-anymore children, Matthew and Lauren. Sunsets, bubbly, and good company from Nantucket to Watch Hill. Always.
Kim Thomas Founder, New England Coastal Creative & Coastal Necessities"It isn't just a description — it's a little piece of us hiding in plain sight."
The NECC at the center of our name is no accident. New England Coastal Creative lives right inside it — Coastal NECC-essities. This shop was always meant to be an extension of the community we'd spent years building, and the name makes sure you know it. Every time you say it, you're saying us.
The CN Standard
Curated with intention
Nothing makes it into our shop by accident. Every piece is hand-selected because it's genuinely beautiful, thoughtfully made, and worth owning for years.
Women-founded, always
Every brand we carry is women-founded. We believe in the women behind the work — and we want every purchase you make here to support them directly.
Exclusively ours
Our original collections — Coastal Bloom Jewelry, the Cottage Clutch, Infinity Frames, Saltaire Wraps — are designed in-house and only available right here.
Rooted in community
NECC has always been about gathering women who create, celebrate, and elevate each other. Coastal Necessities is the shop at the center of that world.
Inspired by the shore
From Nantucket to Watch Hill, from Martha's Vineyard to Fairfield County — the coast is our muse, our backdrop, and the reason behind everything we make.
Life. Leisure. Latitude.™
That's how we live. That's what we design for. A life lived with intention, beauty, and just enough salt air to keep things in perspective.
The Collections
The Community
The Events
The NECC World
Coastal Necessities is one part of a larger creative community built for women who love the coast.
Shorelines Illustrated
Our flagship editorial platform — travel, lifestyle, and coastal culture from Nantucket to Newport and beyond.
Visit Shorelines →BLOOM, GATHER
& THREADS
Our seasonal retreat series — BLOOM in spring, GATHER in fall, all part of the THREADS collection of intimate creative women's experiences.
Learn More →NECC
New England Coastal Creative — built for women who love living an inspired, creative life. The hub behind everything we do: content, community, and so much more.
Visit NECC →Ready to find your
coastal necessities?
Browse our exclusive collections — curated for the life you love living.
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