Mirko Fontana and Diego Marquez borrowed from Monopoly imagery for Au Jour Le Jour's Pre-Fall collection. Although the game's origins date back earlier, it was first sold by Parker Brothers in 1935, which makes this year its 80th anniversary. And if the familiar lightbulb, automobile, locomotive, diamond ring, and question mark patterned across sequined minidresses were any indication, the designers felt there was much to celebrate. But they didn't stop there; in fact, the onslaught of these symbols—on "eco" faux fur and jacquard lamé; as miniaturized and enlarged motifs; atop pink and blue neoprene—quickly turned from cute to compulsive. At this point, leopard spots and coupled lips (a label signature) didn't stand a chance. And when gingham becomes the palate cleanser, you know you've reached peak pattern. Another storyline, circular quilting, felt more mattress than modern, although as far as puffy layering fabrics go, it offered a point of difference. All around, however, quality was high—an important measure of a brand's longevity.
Still, if the designers adhere to a basic-equals-boring mantra, there's something equally unsatisfying about their cornucopia of kitsch. The irony, too, is that they hardly have a monopoly on a niche strongly upheld by Jeremy Scott. Yet perhaps there's room for everyone; comments on Au Jour Le Jour's Instagram photos are largely in the language of emoji. To its fans, many too young to have played board games, symbols are the preferred lingua franca.
