Milly 2017 Resort Collection

Wanderlust was the watchword at Milly, with Michelle Smith considering journeys both physical and psychological for a client who “is expanding her horizons on all levels,” Smith said.

Prints were especially colorful and loud. Broad strokes in red and blue on a beautifully structured reversible coat were inspired by the hard-edge paintings of Ellsworth Kelly. That same pattern was fashioned as piecework on a bias-cut dress, giving the illusion of an engineered print. Stripes recurred throughout the collection, graphic ones covering a knit tube-top-and wide-pants combo, and traditional men’s wear ones on luxe cotton-silk blend shirting with sheen. There were also florals grounded in black, and a crazy eclectic print pulling together the color story of blues, hot pinks and nudes (“inspired by the craziness in my head,” laughed Smith).

Smith’s quirky layering highlighted the collection’s nonchalant attitude. Bralettes, introduced in the fall, were rendered this season in floral prints and styled with street-style cool over tops. Dramatic ruffles cascaded along a chic cropped top and dramatic bell-bottom trousers, a new silhouette for the brand. It all had a modern sensibility fit for a girl on the move.