Gowns have always been Monique Lhuillier’s thing, and her challenge each season is to make them feel fresh in an increasingly casual market. Recently, women have been taking to her new evening pants, so she’s been able to get a little more experimental. Her pre-collections give her the best chance to expand those red carpet separates and daywear—or, at least, day-to-night-wear; you still won’t find jeans or T-shirts in a Lhuillier lineup.
For Resort, the most striking look featured a strapless bustier with a trailing, high-low hemline and allover floral embroidery. Paired with lace pants and a skinny scarf, it would stand out on the red carpet or a more low-key daytime event. But Lhuillier knows that a lot of her customers will buy the top and style it with their own clothes, too, so she’s shifting her focus to “special items” that can be worn a few different ways. On that note, she also designed a charming pink-and-red sequined cardigan—imagine it with vintage jeans—and less surprising lace skirts and blouses. Dresses still made up a bulk of the collection, but the biggest change was felt in the comfy, unstructured silhouettes. “They’re dramatic but easy,” she said. A champagne slip with billowing sleeves would no doubt feel more relaxed than a stuffy black-tie ensemble.
