As if it weren’t clear by now, we’re major fans of Monse, the buzzworthy New York label from Oscar de la Renta alumni Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia. With an impressive roster of A-list supporters like Sarah Jessica Parker, Amal Clooney and Selena Gomez, the brand is gaining speed on the red carpet circuit with recent hits seen on Sienna Miller, Jessica Biel, Allison Williams and Victoria’s Secret Angel Devon Windsor. Applying both edge and elegance to a collection that feels fresh and utterly unique, the design duo chatted with us about their rapid success and becoming a favorite among Hollywood’s elite.
ON THE MONSE WOMAN
@monsemaison
"She's working, has a busy life and wants to look effortlessly sexy when she goes out."
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME
@monsemaison
"It's Fernando's mother's name. Our names felt too generic to represent the feeling of the clothes, and Monse felt strong but feminine at the same time."
ON THEIR BOLD AND RELAXED AESTHETIC
@monsemaison
"We make sure the clothes have the least amount of complications possible—as we learned from our former mentor, it can be as simple as the color to get the look."
ON THEIR FIRST NYFW SHOW
@monsemaison
"It was completely nerve-racking. On the day, we were so tired we hardly remember a thing. But seeing the turnout was surprising and heartwarming—the support has only increased since then."
ON THEIR DESIGN INSPIRATION
@monsemaison
"We have quite different aesthetics, but the bottom line is it has to look easy. Inspiration can come from a picture, a person or even a song—it's quite hard to keep it to one source."
ON THEIR FAVORITE RED CARPET LOOK
@monsemaison
"All of them have been standout, but knowing how badly Selena wanted to wear that dress from the Chris Classen and Kate Young [styling] team was the most flattering."
ON THEIR CELEBRITY NETWORK
@monsemaison
"When we left the company and began working on Monse in May, Sarah Jessica heard about it through (stylist) Erin Walsh and immediately asked us to make her a dress. Amal was in Como when I was developing fabrics in July and got to see all the sketches, and immediately asked to have something made. Like this the support for the brand grew organically"
ON WHICH IT GIRL TO DRESS NEXT
@tk_wonder
"We'd be happy to dress them all!"
ON THEIR BIGGEST OSCAR INFLUENCE
@monsemaison
"We would have to say the boldness in the clothes, just done the Monse way."
ON THEIR NEXT COLLECTION
@monsemaison
"We will always love a shirt and a stripe, so perhaps new ways of seeing them for a colder climate will come next."
