Milly’s looks are always smart, sexy, and feminine. The designer Michelle Smith’s background, which includes a degree from FIT and an internship at the Paris Hermes headquarters (Smith was the first American to be granted such an internship), internships with Louis Vuitton, Torrente, and Christian Dior Haute Couture as well as a degree from Paris’ prestigious design school ESMOD, has helped shaped her clean and chic aesthetic.
Since its 2000 inception the label has grown exponentially and given the economic climate (and the number of Neiman Marcus exes at the show), Michelle Smith’s brand will continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming year.
The Fall/Winter 2009 collection was inspired by Manhattan’s Gallery Girls. It mixed textures and hues for a number of sleek looks. The stand-outs of the collection were the mini-skirts worn over tights some of which were done in eye-catching metallic wool. There were also wholly covetable cocktail dresses – of note, a black silk hand knotted bow tie dress, a chestnut silk guipure lace bow dress, and a black silk duchess satin strapless ruffle dress.
Ruffle accents and cloche-like hats added quaint touches to many of the looks.
Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
