IN CONVERSATION WITH MILO

interview by JANA LETONJA

milo is a female-owned, Los Angeles–based ready-to-wear brand redefining everyday dressing with a sense of play, ease, and intention. Founded by Kimmy Paladini, the label is designed for the modern woman who values clothing that feels as good as it looks—effortless, functional, and joyfully versatile. Crafted with sustainable fabrics and rooted in thoughtful design, milo’s pieces transition seamlessly from coastal escapes to city streets, reflecting a philosophy of movement, confidence, and lighthearted self-expression.

images courtesy of milo

What inspired you to launch milo, and what gap did you see in the market?

milo was inspired by the way I personally approach getting dressed and the role clothing plays in how I feel day to day. I’ve always gravitated toward a wardrobe that feels edited, favorite pieces I can reach for easily and wear across different moments of life, from day to night, coast to city. When you put on something you truly love, it does something internally. It brings ease, confidence, and a sense of feeling like yourself. I wanted to share that feeling with others.

Rather than setting out to fill a traditional gap in the market, milo was born from a desire to offer a considered point of view. I saw space for high-quality, thoughtfully made essentials that feel elevated yet approachable, pieces designed to live with you through seasons, settings, and stages of life. milo is about curating those essentials in a way that feels intentional, sustainable, and accessible, offering clothing that enhances everyday life without excess or overcomplication.

How did your personal style and lifestyle shape the brand’s identity from the beginning?

My personal style and lifestyle have been the central point of inspiration for milo from the very beginning. The brand is an extension of how I live, what I gravitate toward, and what I value—pieces that feel considered, wearable, and aligned with real life. Translating those preferences into something tangible felt like a natural creative evolution rather than a departure from who I am.

What excites me most is the idea of sharing that perspective with others. Style, at its best, can be an entry point to connection, bringing together people from different backgrounds through shared sensibilities and values. milo was built as a way to creatively express that, inviting people into a lifestyle that feels refined yet approachable, wherever they may encounter it in their own lives.

milo is rooted in fun, effortless, and functional design. How do you balance those elements in each collection?

Balancing fun, effortless, and functional design starts with how I live my own life. No matter how full or demanding a day may be, I’m intentional about leaving room for ease and enjoyment. To me, looking good and feeling good in what you’re wearing should never feel like extra work. I should add to your life, not complicate it.

Each milo collection is designed with that mindset. The pieces are meant to feel comfortable and wearable, while still bringing a sense of polish and quiet joy. Function comes from thoughtful silhouettes and fabrics that move with you, effortlessness comes from how naturally the pieces integrate into everyday life, and fun is woven in through subtle details and the feeling the clothes give you when you put them on. Because those values are so intrinsic to how I move through the world, the balance doesn’t feel forced, it flows naturally from the inside out.

What does “transitional dressing” mean to you, and why is it central to the brand?

Transitional dressing, to me, is about building a wardrobe around pieces you genuinely return to, pieces that move with you through different moments of life rather than being tied to a single occasion. When my closet feels curated instead of crowded, getting dressed becomes intuitive. I know what I love, and I know how to wear it in more than one way.

At the heart of milo, transitional dressing is about that emotional connection to clothing. A favorite piece isn’t just something that looks good. It’s something that makes you feel at ease, confident, and grounded. When you feel good in what you’re wearing, it carries into every setting, whether that’s a meeting, a dinner, or a quiet day by the coast. Our pieces are designed to move between places, moods, and moments—city to coast, day to night—so you can carry that feeling with you without needing an overwhelming wardrobe.

Why was sustainability a non-negotiable from day one?

Sustainability was foundational to milo from the start. It informs how we think about materials, production, and the people involved, ensuring each piece is created with care, responsibility, and long-term purpose in mind.

What does producing locally in Los Angeles allow you to prioritize creatively and ethically?

Producing locally in Los Angeles allows me to stay deeply connected to every stage of the process, both creatively and ethically. Creatively, it gives me the freedom to be hands-on and intentional, refining fit, fabric, and details in real time without losing sight of the original vision. There’s a level of care and nuance that comes from being able to collaborate closely with makers and iterate thoughtfully.

From an ethical standpoint, choosing to produce locally means partnering with manufacturers that operate under established labor standards and regulations. While I’m not physically present on factory floors, producing in Los Angeles provides a level of confidence and transparency in knowing that ethical practices are being upheld. It was important to me that milo be built with integrity, making conscious choices about where and how our pieces are produced, and aligning the brand with values that respect both people and process.

Who is the milo woman, and how do you envision her wearing the pieces throughout her

Day?

The milo woman is confident, warm-hearted, and fun-spirited. She cares deeply about fashion, but even more about depth of character. She knows how to look the part while truly living it, moving through her day with intention and ease.

In her own personality and character, she is versatile. She is driven, yet effortless in her pursuits. Her days are full—things to do, people to see, places to be—and she moves through it all with quiet confidence. She’s thoughtful about where she eats, shops, and what she wears, just as she’s thoughtful about who she is and how she shows up in the world around her.

Travel inspires her. Seeing life beyond her immediate bubble shapes her perspective and fuels her creativity. She’s intentional in the details, always aware of how they contribute to a larger vision. New perspectives inspire her, shaping both her taste and her outlook.

I envision milo pieces moving with her throughout her day, transitioning seamlessly from activity to activity, from event to event, from getting things done to simply having fun. The pieces are designed to support her rhythm, adapting to her life with ease. She is purposeful and motivated to leave her mark on the world, doing so with an understated sense of confidence and effortless ease.

How do you design for confidence and comfort without overthinking trends?

I believe confidence and comfort are seamlessly intertwined. When you feel comfortable, you feel confident. And when you feel confident, you feel comfortable. Choosing essential pieces that elevate a simple look, pieces that can be dressed up or dressed down, creates a natural, intuitive sense of confidence.

milo is designed to enhance what’s already there. The pieces don’t overpower the woman wearing them, they elevate her natural essence. By feeling at ease in what she’s wearing, her true self is able to come through, allowing authenticity, confidence, and individuality to shine effortlessly.

What has been the most rewarding part of building a female-owned fashion brand?

The most rewarding part of building a female-owned fashion brand has been creating something that feels deeply innate. Everything I do within milo comes from a place that already exists within me, it feels less like invention and more like expression. As I pour into the brand, that inner depth is able to take form, be lived out, and ultimately come to life.

Seeing that vision resonate with others, and building a team around something that feels so personally imprinted, is incredibly empowering. While milo is a brand I’m building, I hope the process itself encourages other women to draw from what’s already within them, to trust their instincts, honor their depth, and bring their own visions into the world.

What challenges have you faced, and how have they shaped your leadership style?

This is my first time launching a brand within the fashion industry, and one of the greatest challenges has been learning the logistics, the day-to-day realities of producing and building a fashion brand. While some business fundamentals translate across industries, there are many aspects of fashion that can only be learned through experience.

What’s been most important for me is accepting that challenges are inevitable. It’s never a question of if they’ll come, but when. Once that mindset is in place, it reframes the experience from another problem to how do we navigate this next step. That perspective removes unnecessary pressure, both for myself and for my team, and allows us to stay focused, adaptable, and moving forward.

What’s next for milo? Are there new categories or ideas you’re excited to explore?

Absolutely. I’m excited to continue expanding milo within our core idea of essentials, pieces we define as foundational, elevated, and designed to carry you through an entire day. The focus is on building a wardrobe that feels considered and complete, where each piece serves a purpose yet transitions effortlessly from one moment to the next.

I’ve also noticed that certain pieces have caught the attention of the men in our customers’ lives, boyfriends and husbands, which feels meaningful. There’s something interesting in that shared appeal – a balance of ease, quality, and understated design that resonates beyond one perspective. It opens the door to thoughtful exploration while staying true to milo’s essence.

How do you see the brand evolving while staying true to its core values?

As milo evolves, keeping the milo girl—who she is, what she stands for, and what she cares about—at the forefront of every decision will always anchor us to our core values. She serves as our compass, bringing us bck to the essence of the brand as we grow.

I see milo as more than a fashion label. It’s a lifestyle rooted in intention, ease, and authenticity. 

Staying connected to that perspective helps safeguard the brand from straying off course, allowing growth to feel natural and aligned while remaining true to what milo has always stood for.