Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim are gearing up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Monse in September. Their tightly edited resort collection looked back at favorite Monse-isms, both their own and those of their customers. The focus was on “topsy-turvy staples.” A two-in-one puffer jacket was constructed from separate jackets joined at the waist (the bottom jacket was thinner to eliminate bulk). This same approach was used on
colorblocked cardigans, a deconstructed fair isle sweater, a classic businessman striped cotton poplin shirt, and a two-toned denim jacket with a suede collar.

The outerwear was certainly one of the collection’s strongest elements. A trench-style cropped jacket in chocolate suede or black leather came with a double lapel and could quickly become a staple in anyone’s closet; while another trompe l’oeil style, this time a hoodie “underneath” a blazer but with the hoodie’s scrunched arms layered over the jacket’s sleeves, was especially successful in a black leather and heathered gray construction.

Elsewhere, there were party-ready pieces in the form of slinky sequined gowns and a studded mesh shirt and easy flared pant—all in shades of chocolate-copper, which added an unexpected allure. Studs were also used to embellish knits, including a colorblocked turtleneck which, if you looked closely, turned out to be two turtlenecks in one. “We didn’t have the front of one and the back of the other, so we just married them,” Garcia explained. “That’s usually how the best little experiments come to life. It ended up being one of my favorite pieces.”