inspire me: tailor-made

The playful globe bulbs of a Sputnik chandelier throw prisms of light against the white walls of a loft studio in Manhattan's Garment District, illuminating the colorful fashions, furnishings, and accessories that energize the spare vibe of the work space. Even when she begins with a neutral palette, color follows Michelle Smith everywhere. For the fashion designer and founder of the clothing line Milly, it's a hazard of the job.

"I wanted my studio to reflect the style of Milly--clean, smart, sexy, and glamorous," says Michelle, creator of polished designs with exuberant dashes of unexpected hues that have flattered the figures of celebrities such as Thandie Newton, Kelly Ripa, Anne Hathaway, and Beyoncé Knowles. .

Written by Jennifer Wilson
Photographs by Squire Fox
Produced by Jenny Bradley