A newer Monse has arrived. While designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim will make their official return to the runway this fall, this resort collection serves as a firm indicator of where the two want to take the brand next. “Laura and I are masculine and feminine in everything we do,” said Garcia. Whereas those energies may have been more siloed when the duo balanced design responsibilities at Monse and Oscar de la Renta, this season, the aesthetics met with fuller realization as they brought their focus under one, singular roof. In the most practical of terms, Kim expressed that within this collection, she wanted a piece for every occasion.
They cheekily deconstructed suiting with classic feminine elegance, and a dash of sex. This range was demonstrated by a totally sheer lace corseted skirt that sat alongside a more demure leopard knit co-ord set. Meanwhile, a red ombré fringed gown swayed alongside a bandeau top made entirely from dismembered denim waistbands, the latter of which the designers agreed was a quirky highlight of the collection.
For the pair, lightness was another central talking point. A detached suit shirt collar—something of a modern “dickie”—appeared as a unique accessory to prevent bulk under blazers or pullovers; its knit iteration was a cozier take on the same idea. In a more traditional expression of airy ideas, summery organzas, such as one lemon-printed dress, added a touch of coquettishness. It’s a wide-ranging mix of pieces, but in it, there’s something for, if not every occasion—as Kim hoped for—at very least most.
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