Boscobel, a historic estate overlooking the Hudson, was the setting for Sea’s spring 2025 lookbook. One reason for choosing it, said designer Monica Paolini: “It’s close to where Sean [Monahan] and I grew up.” The team showed Upstate some sartorial love by embroidering horses and lambs on a soft gray cardigan styled with a long pleated hybrid skirt that was khaki (tan) and cargo (olive drab) on front and back, respectively. A pair of pants was similarly designed. Extending the country theme, there was an ochre-colored barn coat with brown corduroy collar and sweet Sea embroidered motifs, as well as a really smart rain cape with a snap on/off hood. Cargo pockets added a utilitarian/military air to unfussy, monochrome separates. The collection needed such gravitas to ground the effusion of eyelet and cut-out work. Those dresses, especially the white ones, looked best layered over pants. It wasn’t only cut-outs creating a sense of airiness, but lace as well, used on the skirt of a one-piece dress with a hooded button down top.
Sea has found its land legs in the form of sports influence; for spring, there was a nylon zip-up jacket with crochet details. If the Chariots of Fire references Paolini mentioned were elusive, those to Marie of Romania, a 19th-century fashion plate were not. The designer was drawn to the way the royal mixed embroideries. Needlework inspired by Eastern European garments and home textiles added color to the collection. By now, this head-to-toe folksy look is expected, and a bit rote, at Sea. Yet an embroidered jacket with a pair of upcycled and mended denim jeans was a winning “a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll” combo.
