Milly by Michelle Smith was my 7th show of the day at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  Yes, you read that correctly – not 7th of the week, 7th of the day!  Am I getting tired?  H&LL NO!!!  I can rest
after this show, grab a cocktail in the lobby and get some more socializing in.  Ok, so maybe I’m not a socialite EVERY day of my life but for today I am.  Though you know who IS a bonafide socialite AND
was just RIGHT in front of me in the front row … yes, I was in the SECOND row for this show … none other than reality tv star, fashion entrepreneur and yes, socialite, Tinsley Mortimor  (the next day I
met an ex of one of her friends, but we will leave that for another time).

Another starlet in the same section as me, in the front row of course, and just a little to my right, was none other than 30 Rock’s own Cerie, actress Katrina Bowden.  Who else you ask?  Well, after taking in Nanette Lepore earlier in the day, Natalie Morales, co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show, was back for more … and with a wardrobe change to boot.  Rounding out the “crew” in front of me (I’m IN the picture with them, can you guess which one is me?) were Tinsley’s sister and fellow-socialite, Dabney Mercer, also Susan Shin (socialite or non-socialite?), and finally, cable news personality and former L.A. Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Guilfoyle Villency, whom I had met once before when she was married to San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom.

Oh yeah, the clothes.  Milly by Michelle Smith is a beautiful, strong, youthful and a high-end brand which is clearly shown in her Spring/Summer 2011 collection. The bold colors and prints showed the strength with which Michelle created her collection; also shown were full rounded skirts with slender bodices which resembled the strength of her designs. Wearable designs for every body-type and classic designs with innovative color-combinations and prints were strutted down the runway with 43 outfits on display for us to see.

Michelle Smith showed that she’s got the ability to create fashion-forward clothes that are sophisticated and which have a vintage vibe. The fashion-forward elements of her designs are seen in the tribal elements of the prints and colors while the sophistication and the vintage vibe are seen in the proportions of the designs and the styling. Michelle Smith’s new jewelry and handbag collection have a clear vintage vibe to them and with the volume of the necklaces and the prints on her handbags she managed to transfer the strength of the clothing-line to both her jewelry and handbag collections.

For as many celebs as there were in the audience, backstage wasn’t the usual crazy buzz or maybe I missed something, I’ll have to ask around.

Thanks, Michelle … see you in February.

– Mike J
Photo Credits:  Monica Feudi / GoRunway.com  (Style.com), Getty Images  (via NYmag.com), Patrick McMullan  (via NYmag.com)  and Mike J