Milly's Cool Collection
Milly designer Michelle Smith is tied up in knots over sexy collection with "cool girl" vibe
Milly designer Michelle Smith is all tied up in knots — and it's in a good way. For her spring/summer 2017 collection, which she dubbed "Love Knot" when it was unveiled at New York Fashion Week, Smith sexes up comfortable fabrics like cotton poplin and stretch silk with laced-back tops and criss-cross straps along the arms that move seductively as the model walks.
"What could I create out of these trustworthy fabrics that would make me feel vibrant and sensual...excited and alive?" she asks in her program notes. "That was the starting point....exploring the space between purity and sensuality and where the two become entangled."
The cool collection features blouson camisoles with arm ties paired with side-tie skirts, strapless tops with bow-tie sleeves, knit fringe dresses and bow-tied bustiers. Shapes are close to the body or hang loose in a fun way — satin "paperbag" mini skirts and baggy slacks that fall below the hip offer a fresh silhouette. Colors are bright —emerald green is a recurring shade — and a black-and-white palm print and abstract nautical pattern pack a punch.
Several of the looks are quite demure from the front, but are a lot sexier from behind with laced-up backs that reveal the often-overlooked body part.
Everything looks cool and effortless — the models wore barely a trace of makeup and their hair was loosely knotted on top, which simply added to the "cool girl" vibe.