Is Monse worth it for the price?+
Monse sits in the luxury ready-to-wear tier, and the value lives in the cut rather than logos. Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia trained for years at Oscar de la Renta before launching the label, and that pedigree shows in the tailoring. If you love deconstructed, twisted shirting that reads as quietly expensive, a Monse piece tends to earn its keep season after season.
What is Monse best known for?+
Monse is famous for taking classic menswear tailoring apart and rebuilding it on the female form. Think slashed and re-draped shirting, asymmetric off-the-shoulder shapes, and that signature play between masculine and feminine. The brand helped popularize the cold-shoulder look, and a deconstructed striped shirtdress is its calling card.
Why is Monse so expensive?+
The price reflects a small, designer-led luxury label rather than a mass producer. Founders Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia design every ready-to-wear collection themselves, and the deconstructed construction, off-shoulder draping, and re-engineered shirting take real hand-work to execute. You are paying for a designer point of view from two people who ran Oscar de la Renta's studio for over a decade.
How does Monse compare to Oscar de la Renta?+
The two are deeply linked: Kim and Garcia were appointed co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta in 2017 while also running Monse, before stepping down in 2025 to focus solely on their own label. Oscar de la Renta leans into romantic, ornate eveningwear, while Monse is sharper and more deconstructed, built on tailored shirting and a relaxed, modern attitude. If you want polish with an edge, Monse is the answer.
Where can I buy Monse?+
Monse is carried by major department stores and luxury e-tailers including Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Revolve, Farfetch, and Shopbop. The brand also runs its own boutique at 15 Rivington Street in New York, which offers private fittings and custom requests. Buying from these authorized stockists is the safest way to be sure a piece is authentic.
Who founded Monse and when?+
Monse was founded in 2015 by the design duo Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, who debuted their first ready-to-wear collection at New York Fashion Week for Spring 2016. Kim was born and raised in Seoul and studied at Pratt Institute; Garcia is from Santo Domingo and trained as an architect at Notre Dame. They first met working together at Oscar de la Renta.
What does the name Monse mean and how do you say it?+
Monse is the brand's stylized name, written in all uppercase, and it is pronounced mon-SAY. It anchors an American luxury label born in New York, with collections that run from Fall/Winter and Pre-Fall through Spring and Resort. The house describes its woman as young, relaxed, hardworking, and drawn to bold color and graphic shapes.
Which Monse piece should I buy first?+
Start with the brand's signature: a deconstructed shirting piece, such as an off-the-shoulder or twisted button-down that turns a wardrobe basic into a statement. These are the looks Monse is known for and they layer easily over your existing pieces. From there, the tailored separates and dresses are a natural next step into the world.
Has Monse done any notable collaborations?+
Yes, and they show the brand's range. Monse created a genderfluid footwear capsule with Paris rubber-boot brand Both, an athleisure line with Equinox, and mentored emerging designers through a 2024 Shein X collaboration. In 2025 the duo even designed custom outfits for the Blue Origin NS-31 flight, worn by figures including Lauren Sanchez and Katy Perry.
Which celebrities wear Monse?+
Sarah Jessica Parker was the very first celebrity to wear the label, in a custom all-white look at the 2016 Met Gala, which earned her the title of the brand's first "Monse girl." Early supporters also included Amal Clooney, Selena Gomez, Brie Larson, and Rihanna. Today the label turns up regularly on red carpets and at high-profile events.
Has Monse won any awards?+
It has, and quite early in its life. Monse received the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards, a meaningful nod from the American fashion establishment. That same year, Kim and Garcia were also given the Fashion Visionary Award by Pratt Institute. The recognition helped cement the label's reputation almost overnight.
How should I care for my Monse pieces?+
Because Monse leans on deconstructed tailoring and fine fabrics like merino wool, treat the pieces the way you would investment clothing. Follow the garment's care label, favor professional cleaning for structured shirting and tailoring, and store knits folded rather than hung to keep their shape. Gentle handling protects the precise cuts and draping that make the brand special.
