Coming off of a Fall collection that drew inspiration from Robert Mapplethorpe’s erotic flower photographs, Hellessy’s Sylvie Millstein was feeling a bit more romantic for Resort. Instead of taking an overtly modernist approach this season, the designer looked at paintings by 17th-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and more precisely, his striking use of cerulean in famous works like Girl with a Pearl Earring. Millstein paired deep and light shades of the hue together to create bold looks like the off-the-shoulder, voluminous-sleeve dress with a dark blue top in a floral silk jacquard with a lighter blue tiered skirt.
The lovely floral jacquard was a nice addition to the Hellessy lineup for Resort, especially when compared to the buffalo-check-pattern blouses that felt a bit off her romantic message. Millstein’s aim, she explained, is to give women plenty of versatility, whether they want to pair one of her architectural blouses with jeans or put on one of her cool shirtdresses, which can be worn in multiple ways. With Hellessy, and this season in particular, a girl can be casual, dressed up, sensual, and romantic all at once.
