Despite being a fashion center in its own right, the city of Monte-Carlo, Monaco—affectionately christened the “international capital of chic”—is one of the few travel destinations impervious to pop-culture’s “quiet luxury” fascination. Its sister cities, Niece and Cannes, both display the sartorial sophistication one would expect to find on the French Riviera. But on the immaculately-paved streets of this affluent Mediterranean town, extravagance is king.
Though this city is positively microscopic by American standards (the entire thing could fit within the confines of New York City’s Central Park), its sidewalks contain more wealth than most of us could comprehend. It’s estimated that one in every three people in Monte-Carlo is a millionaire and they don’t hesitate to show it off.
Guests take full advantage of the municipality's low crime rate, peacocking their seven-figure bank accounts (and eight and nine…) for their fellows to admire. Here, everything is designer—from the clothes on their backs to the lipstick in the rare Birkin bags. Even the pool furniture boasts its own designer logo—if you’re staying at the luxurious Monte-Carlo Beach hotel, that is. And lucky for me, that’s exactly where I was headed.
A Pier-Turned-Runway
Kelsey Stiegman
While many five-star resorts contain their own on-site designer boutiques, Monte-Carlo Beach took the high-end shopping experience one step further…down two flights of stairs and across a wooden boardwalk to their quaint oceanfront pier. The seaside promenade has been temporarily converted into an upscale shrine honoring Jacquemus’ Summer 2025 Resort collection.
The brand’s founder and namesake, Simon Porte Jacquemus, worked closely with Monte-Carlo Beach’s creative team to transform the charming look-out, as well as the hotel’s pool-side café, into a decadent fashion experience. Using the same creative strategies he utilizes while constructing his ready-to-wear designs, Jacquemus erected his own legion of charming chaise loungers. Each chair is outfitted in its own custom-made garb, exemplifying resort wear in its most literal sense.
Though nautical striped pool decor is readily available in the luxury hospitality space, Jacquemus’ exclusive oceanscape maintains an undeniable feeling of freshness. Like the brand’s famously whimsical creations, these aren’t merely pieces of furniture to be disregarded or ignored—they’re interactive works of art.
An Ode to His Summer 2025 Resort Collection
Like Jacquemus’s most timely releases, the beach umbrellas, blankets, and matching chairs were cloaked either in cream-and-ebony regency stripes or pale yellow canvas, the color of a perfectly-ripe banana (his take on the viral butter-inspired color trend). This pastel hue was the star of Simon’s “La Croisière” collection, which debuted at Paris Resort Week in January. And judging by his just-released campaign imagery, the same will be true of his upcoming “Le Paysan” collection, which took influences from his humble upbringings in the Southern French countryside.
For the installation, however, he amended the food-inspired colorway for maximum impact, topping loungers with cheerful, sunbeam-yellow cushions. The choice proved to be a skillful one, with the vivid hue clashing magnificently against the teal-blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Its pristine currents would undoubtedly receive a Flawless certification on the diamond clarity scale.
Indeed, the collaboration was done so well, virtually any item from Monte-Carlo Beach’s dual Jacquemus pop-up shops (the designer’s only brick-and-mortar locations on the French Riviera) would have color-coordinated perfectly with the limited-edition pool furniture. That was certainly the case for my own vacation-induced impulse purchase.
The World's Most Exquisite Souvenir Shop
Kelsey Stiegman
Even with an Olympic-grade pool, spa, beach club, newly-opened padel courts, and three world-class restaurants (its sustainable seafood spot, Elsa, has a Michelin star) within meters of my suite, I spent a considerable portion of my two-night stay at Jacquemus’ twin boutiques. Our visit was a professional one, but my fellow editors and I couldn’t resist pulling the trigger on a lavish souvenir to commemorate the experience. Prolonged proximity to exorbitant wealth can influence even the thriftiest among us to spend like a Rockefeller.
After several reconnaissance missions, I decided to end my trip in the most fitting manner possible: with an extravagant splurge. I considered investing in the Jacquemus x Monte-Carlo Beach exclusive merch—the shops sold branded T-shirts, keyrings, baseball caps, and mugs—but, ultimately, my fashion editor persona won out.
In the end, I left with a striped takeaway box reminiscent of the chairs I luxuriated on earlier that day. The piece was fitted with Jacquemus’ hallmark geometrics—which, in the case of my Rond Carré Clutch, meant mismatched dark-wood shapes at each end of its magnetic closure.
My choice style is currently sold out in the US—which is just as well, because as any label loyalist will tell you, everything is cheaper in Europe. (But be warned, Global Blue’s tax refund kiosk is located outside of the Cannes Mandelieu Airport, so make it your first stop before security.)
The Definition Of Luxury
@sofiagrainge/Instagram
Even without its printed patio furniture and branded parasols, which will remain on the property until Oct. 7, Monte-Carlo Beach is a five-star haven worth every penny (my stay was complimentary, but you get the idea). As part of the Relais & Châteaux—an elite association of independent luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants across 65 countries—the Monte-Carlo Beach offers high-end travel at the premiere level, without being the least bit snobbish (an important detail).
Even so, guests run a high risk of brushing elbows with both celebrities and royalty during their stay, given the hotel’s proximity to the Monaco Grand Prix racetrack, the Prince's Palace of Monaco, and the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo, which inspired the first James Bond novel. Throughout my time there, Formula 1 drivers were aplenty and I personally spotted Albert II, Prince of Monaco and son of Grace Kelly, enjoying a gourmet lunch at one of the hotel eateries.
Despite the hotel’s air of overt opulence, Sofia Richie-Grainge—the original “stealth wealth” muse—visited the hotel a mere week before my arrival. And if her experience was anything like mine, you can safely assume she wholeheartedly enjoyed her stay.
