In 1998, Mily created a precedent by being presented at a high fashion Sotheby's auction . Here is the presentation text from the catalogue, written by Miss Satin (a.ka BillyBoy*, who else?)
Miss Satin on Mily for Sotheby's
Mily "born in 1964 as France's answer to the diminutive and swelte fashion "mannequin" dolls popularized in America, can only be considered the eternel symbol of feminine mystique and elegance. She is also one of France's rarest fashion dolls of the late 1960s and a wonderful icon for contemporary fashions wearers and even collectors.
Mily's accompanying mini-booklet opened with the words "Chic....Grâce....Elégance". Her vinyl carry-all trunk, like a Vuitton trunk is eternally filled with the brainchildren of fashion legends and when opened today, at the close of the twentieth-century, we can marvel on her now-classic highlights of haute couture. Dreamy, nostalgic and forever "right" especially for now, right now!
Just when you think you have nothing to wear, looking at Mily, her world and this catalogue, you realize you have EVERYTHING to wear, thanks to Sotheby's New York Fashion Department and this sale.
Her YSL-esque caban coat inspired by a seaman's original still looks good to us. Her Jacques Esterel-like gingham (called Vichy in France) full-skirted dress and head scarf recall Bardot's wedding dress and her sheath dresses, à la Dior and Chanel, still have that certain flair which is admired and sought-after by sophisticated women around the world.
Mily's "Mod" period, so completely fashionable again, recalls Emanuel Ungaro's first collections of youthful high fashion and even her printed outfits evoke the artists' prints of Pop Art days.
Mily owned a Mondrian dress, (in the mini-diaries which came with her outfits, she practically says "Thank you" to Yves Saint-Laurent), a Somali leopard coat exactly like Dior's famous creation, and her velvet suits typicaly reminiscent of the lady-like Balmain suits of her era.
Mily, like Sotheby's today, is ahead of it's time and utterly fashionable (is that a Courrèges-inspired jumpsuit she is wearing?....it certainly is in his significant orange jersey!). Mily kept her early outfits and those savy enough to get with the trend. Mily, private collectors and museums alike, realize that vintage haute couture and fashion clothing is chic and elegant not only to wear but also to collect, as the time has come to acknowledge their historic importance.
Mily admires the rare Worth gown, the ELLE magazine and the FEMINA edition, the Balmains, the Fortuny Delphos, the Schiaparelli costume jewels and the exquisite selection of the century's highlights paraded and offered in this glorious sale. The telephone handbag of the 1970s is a "must" in Mily's book. She would be thrilled to pack these treasures into her vinyl trunk, along with her adorable colifichets (Dior Boutique or perhaps Jacques Fath?") and open-toe pumps (à la Roger Vivier)!
Mily is not only a rare and fascinating French high fashion collector's item and historic figure, but is now a collector, thanks to Sotheby's! Surely Mily is writing today in her diary "Thank you" to Sotheby's in her inimitable, très français, charming way.
Miss Satin, 1998.
