Kohl’s Does Designer: Milly for DesigNation

Milly for Kohl's DesigNation

Target isn’t the only game in town when it comes to the discount designer collection, though you’d hardly know it if you shop according to media buzz. Discount department store, Kohl’s stays relatively under the radar when it comes to promotion of their specific collabs, a fact that I view as a blessing– it just means MORE FOR ME! Don’t sleep on Kohl’s DesigNation; it has definitely helped make Kohl’s a worth destination.

Kohl’s debuted the Milly for DesigNation capsule collection this spring, making it the sixth designer collaboration under the DesigNation umbrella, that began in 2012 with Narciso Rodriguez. Collabs with Thakoon, Derek Lam and most recently, Elie Tahari, followed.

Take a Look at Kohl’s: Milly for DesigNation

Milly for DesigNation at Kohl's

I love Milly for the vibrant and playful use of color and pattern, and this collection is supposed to transport you to a whimsical day spent lounging in Capri. I stumbled on it quite by accident. I needed a dress for an event I was going to be attending with my family. My mother’s directives were clear: you had better look nice (duh!) and after-work business attire was recommended. As my job requires little more than nice jeans, that meant it was dress up time!

Kerri Estella in Milly for DesigNation at Kohl's

I wanted an outfit that was colorful and sophisticated, playful but not outlandish for an office setting. I kept my makeup vibrant but day-to-night appropriate, pairing a colorful (dusky purples–“Mulberry”, “Chocolate” and “Ballet” Color Impact Shadows— as nudes and Liquid Perfection Eyeliner in Black) but neutral eye with a vibrant lip ( “Magenta” HydraBrillance Lipstick paired with Beauticontrol’s Sheer lip color in the frosty “Electric Purple”).

The vibrant sheath scuba dress has a figure-skimming cut and features a black exposed zipper, giving the sheath a bit of edge.

Milly for DesigNation

Photo: Kohls.com

The event was a huge success. My forever friend, Ronald was in town to be the keynote speaker and inspired the entire audience. Even though I’ve known him since I was six and THOUGHT I knew his story, listening to him inspired a new direction for me too…I’ll be revealing more about that soon!

He and I had a blast exploring the location, a place that is near and dear to our hearts. What is now the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center at Hull used to be Clover Hill High School– our good old neighborhood high school got one hell of a makeover! We had a bit of an extended photoshoot and Ron’s skills with the iPhone caught me and this dress in perfect, playful action.

A photo posted by Ron Forbes (@ronforbes) on


Are you a fan of designer collaborations? What is your favorite collab and what are you looking forward to in the future? Are you planning on shopping Milly for DesigNation?

The Weekender

I am exhausted, guys. I woke up this morning at 6:30 as per usual, but I felt like perhaps I might be waking up for the last time. I had actually gone to bed the night before– I am notorious for falling asleep on the couch. Or on the living room floor. Whatever. Don’t judge me.– but I woke up feeling like I had slept on a hardwood floor, perhaps in a ball gown, definitely something with boning. What in the world was I so fricking tired for?! I drug myself out of bed, put on an extremely colorful winter ensemble and took my butt to work.

So, as I’m plugging away at my editing station, it hit me. I am the busiest that I have been in a very long time. It’s the end of the year so naturally, it’s award ceremony time. And with the award ceremonies come cocktail hours and hotel dinners. It’s also holiday time aka the most travelingest time of the year. I spent a weekend away once this season and am planning at least a couple more before the season is out. But I am woefully WOEFULLY unprepared. Unfortunately for me,  I realized this as I dragged my Kate Spade tote and schlumpy  duffle all through the New York subway system.

Dealing with my out of alignment back and probably dislocated rotator cuff got me to spring into immediate action. I call this shopping trip, Operation Jetset.

View Post