Scandi cool fashion brand Monki has aimed high for AW18: to distil the essential autumn fashion pieces and accessories for 20-something young women, from the suit to the beret — In a Monki way. In line with the brand’s drive to enable expressive style, this means that the design team has set out to play with classic elements, not repeat them. The result is a vibrant collection that is ‘fashion’, that is personal — and wardrobe-ready. A collection, in short, that feels like pressing play on a playlist of favourite songs, remixed, reinvented and elevated with new inspiring beats.

“We take fashion seriously — and we love to have fun with it,” says Caroline Carlryd, Head of Design at Monki. “That’s the love-love relationship behind our AW18 press collection: A playfully curated mix of references and design ideas that makes us fall in love with fall all over again. And that’s what the new autumn essentials are all about: seriously stylish pieces, seriously enjoyable fashion.” The AW18 Press play collection highlights modern autumn essentials: the pinstripe and cord suiting, the shearling outerwear, the short skirt, the foral blouse—and remixes them.

Using the energy of unexpected materials, combos, prints, 70s references, sporty details and bold, even loud accessories to inspire. In the Monki version of classic autumn fashion, pinstripe and plaid tweed suiting is worn with gold lamé turtle necks or top-to-toe all over forals. The classic beret comes not in wool but in a luxe faux shearling, and the perennial burnt orange knit is worn with burgundy patent leather kick-fares. In short: each design choice elevates the other. The collection, like the brand itself, asks one fundamental question: isn’t life too short to wear boring clothes?

The press play credo has also inspired the press shoot, featuring models Lily McMenamy, and twin models Martine and Gunnhild Chioko Johansen.