Milly Spring 2009 Runway Show - Dedacent 60's Summertime, Anytime

Milly By Michele Smith is always a fresh and exciting runway show. Before the show I spent some time backstage, checking out the hair, makeup, nails and clothes. I really admired this heavily embelished, bright, hot pink bolero jacket.


Here's how it looked on the runway)

photo courtesy of Mercedes Benz


....and I loved this bohemian fabric that look simply wonderful on the runway

photo courtesy of Mercedes Benz


Creative Nail Design used "Clearly Pink" on fingers (nothing on toes because the shoes are so bright). This sheer, light, blush pink polish (like a lip gloss for the nails) has been a favorite with designers this season. Milly's look for Spring 2009 featured so much bright, bold color and bold prints that the hair and makeup had to be a bit less bold, to give it balance.



Angie from CND gave me a tip for my readers: almond shaped nails like the ones in the photo, and on the Milly runway, are slenderizing, sort of like stilettos for the hands! that had just a hint of ballet-worthy pale pink on it. The look is very innocent, as if you were on the way to the beach. The nail colors for Spring 2009 will give you a full spectrum of color choices. You can go with pale sheers or perhaps, try something new, like CND's new-for-the-Spring, palette of "aged" greyed pastels including lovely, warm colors like those in the Sonoran Desert! Find out where you can a gazillion great CND nail colors right now, through Creative Nail Design's website or in your favorite nail salon.




When the designer meets with the hairstylist s/he has chosen, the stylist must then take the designer's vision and create a hair look for it. The photo on the left shows the concept on a test model with the finished look that the other stylists will copy. The model on the left is a real model whose hair has just been completed for the Milly runway show. Hair was made super-straight, then braided. A few of the models sported 60's style headbands for the show as well. This style is one you could do easily at home, but you'll need smoothing , anti-frizz, and shine products, a flat iron, and at least a little patience!


The creator of this pretty, bohemian hair look is the always gracious and talented Kevin Ryan (on the right) of Rsessions. he posing with Ricky Kenig, owner of the fabulous, Rickys Beauty Supply stores. The stores are so much fun to shop in, offering everything from lipsticks and eyeshadows, to candles and Halloween costumes. Kevin gave me a little tidbit you'll want to know about: the two are working on a special, "updo" kit for Rickys, with everything a girl needs to make (and keep) perfect updo's. Hopefully these will be out in a few months, right in time for the holidays. I can't wait to see it!

Makeup for Milly was created by Romy Soleimani for M.A.C. Cosmetics. This easy, I'm-on-the-way-to-the-beach, 60's look, featured a dewy, sunkissed face, created with tinted moisturizer and then a dusting of powder on the T-zone to keep that area from going wild with shine. Cheeks sported a glowing pink blush plus a bit of bronzer. This glowy/dewy face look with matte T-zone was used on several runways. The models sported body makeup, to complete the beachy look Romy used a pale pink shadow on the eyes, and then lined them 360 degrees, with a pearlized, gold liner. That 60's deb-chic look was continued on lips, with an almost "mod" baby pink lip stain.




The bright, cheerful, easy to wear, bohemian designs were truly lovely -- casual, swingy, with lots of bright colors to keep that day-in-the-sun look, alive. There was plenty of turquoise, purple, pink, coral, orange, yellow, brown, and tons of beads and embellishments. Fashions ranged from the barely there bikini and sheer, off the shoulder looks, to long granny gowns and slouchy pants. These clothes work on women of all ages, and most body types. Fun in the sun? With Milly, you can't miss!



All content and photos (unless otherwise specifically marked) --Alison Blackman Dunham for the Advice Sisters copyright © 2008 all rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham of THE ADVICE SISTERS® The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. Please feel free to link to this post. For other permissions, email the Advice Sisters advicesisters(at)advicesisters(dot)net