SEA AUTUMN/WINTER 2015-16 READY-TO-WEAR NEW YORK

Lace and embroidery are two things you’ll find in every Sea collection, but the way Sean Monahan and Monica Paolini use them changes all the time. Their references for Fall ranged from Almost Famous to military uniforms to African prints, but it was all distinctly Sea, thanks to those crafty signatures. Daisy-print dresses and oversize shearling vests instantly called to mind Penny Lane’s oft-imitated wardrobe from the 1970s-set film, while a graphic blue-on-blue poncho felt just a bit tribal. Cropped eyelet blouses and lace-inset frocks abounded next to densely embroidered dresses in moody black, red, and white stitching. Less-experienced designers wouldn’t have thought to sew in some mesh to lighten those up, and that mixed-media concept extended to some of the collection’s best pieces.

A blanket-style popover with an olive green hood was equally suited for Coachella or the Lower East Side, and a few simple-looking sweaters were actually spliced with crisp shirting in the back. Other mash-ups included washed denim and crepe, eyelet and mohair, and 3-D flower appliqués on everything from sweatshirts to pencil skirts. They looked best on an army jacket with navy blooms scattered across the shoulders; you could picture almost any girl wearing it with the collection’s faded denim culottes.