Club Monaco is one of the few labels that are sticking to the see-now-buy-now formula this season, but it actually makes sense for the retailer. It doesn’t really “do” needle-moving fashion; Club Monaco’s strength is well-made, nicely priced clothes that feel relevant, but aren’t going to garner a skeptical side-eye glance. You can walk into any Club Monaco knowing you’ll find a great trench, a new crepe suit, or a party dress at prices you can stomach, along with a few trends peppered in here and there. In other words, these aren’t clothes you need to see six months in advance. Banana Republic switched to the see-now-buy-now model, too, and while J.Crew is absent from the calendar this season, it could be a wise move for the label.
For Fall 2017, which arrives in Club Monaco stores and online today, head of design Steven Cateron mined the label’s archives for classic American staples, then gave them a 2017 twist. Gray wool suiting was a bit roomier, for instance, and boyish Glen plaid coats had fur trim at the cuffs. More surprising were the ’80s riffs: one-shoulder dresses, splashy leopard prints, and footless tights, which were styled under many of the looks. Don’t miss the shoes, either. The pointy flats with puffs of fur were Club Monaco’s take on the babouche slipper, and the spiky leopard mules were good, too.
