I sat patiently awaiting the start―and finish of the Milly show, expecting too much prep for one urban girl to handle, but once the show began, I was more than happy to let go of my reservations and embrace the magic I was seeing in front of me. Flower child meets preppy; who said I can’t compromise?

The flowing, beaded dresses in a range of vibrant colors mixed with crisp khaki shirts, shorts and blazers took me by surprise and kept my full attention. Crocheted beanies, headbands, huge brown summer sunglasses, and earthy jewelry gave the more serious pieces a playful, care-free look while sleek belts and smart, printed jackets kept it from looking too grungy (Helloo Mary-Kate).

For someone who’s never been afraid of color―bring on the neons today, and save the head-to-toe black for tomorrow― these upbeat, colorful pieces lit up my little world.

All in all, Milly’s balanced combination of hippie and hip was a big hit. Now that we know it’s possible to infuse an everyday look with just the right amount of hippie-chic, I left the show wondering “What’s the first step to pulling off this super fab look on my own, and more importantly―is the world ready for it?” I hope so.- Nadeska Alexis