It's easy to get inspired by the local
fashion when we travel, but the results are usually disastrous.
Speaking from experience, that means buying too many baggy tunics
or thinking that Barbie pink really is a neutral colour. This
isn't the case for Michelle Smith, who designs the Milly clothing line sold in Neiman Marcus, Saks and Kitson. When she travelled to
Mexico's Punta Mita, she was so inspired by the destination
that she designed a Punta Mita cabana wear collection.
Bougainvillea flowers, which are everywhere in Punta Mita,
are incorporated in her prints, and she was also inspired by a
pattern on a pillow in the Four Seasons hotel there. The Milly Punta Mita
collection will hit stores this November. And in case
you're thinking of getting some inspiration from the destination
(Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin and Beyonce have all vacationed
there), in addition to the Four Seasons hotel, a St. Regis will
be opening there in 2008.