featuring kai milla

In celebrating Black History Month, we generally look back with admiration at past pioneers in all industries of life. However, I'd like to draw inspiration from le beau monde of the present, people excelling in their chosen fields (specifically fashion, natch).

Kai Milla is making a name for herself as an astute fashion designer. While the D.C. native, and wife of acclaimed musician Stevie Wonder, did not launch her clothing label until 2005, Milla has an extensive background in arts and design, and even more importantly, a great love for clothes and style. Milla realized her love for art at an early age. She sold her first painting at eight, and was stitching her first dress at thirteen; of course, the next logical step was to design her own prom dress in high school!! Brilliance!!

Milla turned her attention to fashion after she sat in on a season of couture shows in Paris. Yes, Ms. Milla, I'd love so sit in on some Paris shows myself, I'd surely find my calling was to wear each beautiful runway piece. Her designs are for the confident and sophisticated, yet fun-loving woman. This woman is ageless and elegant; and provocative at the same time, the designer reveals. Her design expertise is easily visible in her clothes: a simple striking elegance that's easily functional and beautifully wearable. And indeed, it's her design philosophy I love, a continuous desire for wearable style. I'd read that she admired the techniques of Charles James, an architect and fashion designer who studied under the revered Paul Poiret and whose construction details are taught at FIT. Small wonder, I say.

While I'm still in love with the effortless elegance of the pieces from her last resort collection held at the Cove Atlantis Resort (Keisha Whitaker, Forest Whitaker's wife — aren't they just beyond divine as a couple??!! — modeled a dress for which I'm just dying), I'm all gaga over her Spring collection as well!! Her pieces are available at one of my fave style havens — Vivre.

Spring 2008 Collection:

Resort Collection:There's my dress on the right!! ;)
Fashion week reviews will continue. NY remains one of my true loves.
Happy LFW!!








Big Sugar kisses.