Monse's Spring 2025 show opens with a new interpretation of the viral Michelle Obama jacket

Can you capture lightning twice in a bottle? With Monse, it's definitely possible.

On Saturday night, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia opened their spring runway with a deconstructed khaki vest.

More from WWD

Not just any vest, but a sleeveless version of the Resort 2025 Criss Cross jacket that Michelle Obama wore on the second day of the Democratic National Convention, causing a sensation online—and boosting sales at Monse.

“It was like lightning in a bottle. It was iconic,” Monse's CEO Ayesha Ahmad, who joined the company in the summer, told WWD backstage, without confirming the alleged megawatt sales numbers. “I think it was the combination of Michelle Obama, her speech — because she came to fight; the crest, the freshness of the jacket and the fact that the DNC was about Kamala and the energy. That's why it's like lightning in a bottle, because so many things had to fall into place, and they did. We saw a huge, huge spike in sales. To the point where I was actually working nights because I was watching the DNC, answering customer service emails because they were flooded.”

“It was the most exciting moment of our careers,” Garcia added. “It went like nothing we've ever done before; it's become a very important business for us.”

Back on the runway, the chic top was worn over a white lace-trimmed shirt dress, a football-shaped handbag and boat shoes, signaling the overall back-to-school mentality of the collection.

“Taylor Swift is always on our minds because she's a big Oscar girl. It's a mix of rugby, football and hooray films. Back to school à la Monse,” Garcia said.

Throughout the collection, the duo played with classic American sportswear, with cheeky takes on the sassy schoolgirl, weaving in evolutions of their signature monseisms. For example, denim or chocolate gabardine trousers with elongated high waists; reworked cuts and shirts with double sleeves, hems and necklines; deconstructed seamed rugby dresses; sweeping carwash skirts and open, layered chevron-cut satin and lace slips that ticked all the boxes.

Sporty polo shirts with stripes in delicate pastel shades and sequins gave the popular preppy trend a fresh look, as did a unique college jacket.

“We're talking about maybe opening a store soon so you can get your hands on your one-of-a-kind pieces. I want to do more of that, but we're just harbingers of that,” Kim said of the repurposed and recycled vintage style and retail potential.

“I like this, I like this a lot,” exclaimed actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish as a wide selection of sequined evening gowns passed by her before hilariously (and adorable) getting up from her seat to take a spin down the runway herself before the finale.

The best of WWD

Subscribe to the WWD newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.