At her Resort presentation, Monique Lhuillier said that she "wants to start dressing [her] client earlier in the day—we're talking before 5 p.m." So the designer known primarily for her red-carpet getups showed an abstract zebra-print shirtdress cut from a techno taffeta fabric that was as lightweight as tissue paper, along with a chambray skirtsuit with ruffled trim that would work for the office. While the collection had a casual intent, "it simply wouldn't be a Monique show without gala gowns." Many of the evening looks had skirts so voluminous you could hide a small child underneath. A dramatic, strapless number in a Monetlike print combined pretty sunset shades; another, in petal pink, gave off the appearance of torn ribbons and bows. Those lavish gowns may be fit for a princess, but a silk chiffon look with a high slit in that abstract zebra print could be worn with either heels or flat sandals. It was a cool compromise between casual and dressy that Lhuillier ought to embrace more often.
