Monique Lhuillier and her husband, Tom Bugbee, founded Monique & Company in 1996 as a bridal couture house, branching out into designer eveningwear in 1996 and quickly developing a loyal customer base and clientele. Among her celebrity fans are Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Sharon Stone. Both are highly feminine collections that use only the finest imported fabrics, hand beaded laces, caviar beading, delicate embroideries. For spring 2006 Monique worked in a smoky color palette and admitted to having been inspired by the 60’s Mod era with its voluminous skirts and cocktail dresses. She also noted that the season is very “emotional” for her since she discovered she and her husband were expecting a baby which made her “reflective, giddy and passionate throughout the design process.” While floor length gowns are the house’s trademark, the shorter dresses have become a large and very successful part as well. There are touches of art deco in the form of beading which decorate some of the evening gowns and while some of the pieces are rather simple and unadorned, others are red carpet perfect entrance making numbers. Monique was taken with the pretty soft blouse (which is one of the season’s hallmarks) - often combining it with a dramatic skirt for optimum impact.

Standouts in the 38 piece collection are the silk white gazar halter tuxedo cocktail dress which opened the show, a caviar beaded tulle bateau neck ballerina dress, a silk white eyelet ribbon tuxedo shell worn with a black embroidered tulle and chiffon flared a line skirt, a silk white ruched chiffon flapper cocktail dress, the group of chiffon goddess gowns, and the two silk taffeta ballgowns which closed the show.

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