Image courtesy of Priscilla Dickson
What H-town charity event could get a popular New York designer to fly here for less than 24 hours? Could it have been the chic-ly persuasive co-chairs? the tireless founder of a charity that just makes so much sense that it’s impossible to say No to, or the power house lux Retailer, who sells lots and lots of her dresses? The answer is I’m sure you’ve guessed…all of the above that brought Nicole Miller to our city last week for Recipe for Success’ Dress 4 Dinner fashion show, party and private dinner. After partying with the large crowd on Wednesday night, Nicole was back at Neiman Marcus on Thurs. for a couple of hours to meet and greet the customers before being whisked away to the airport.
As a co-chair I enjoyed the entire evening on Wednesday when myself, Isabel David, also a chairperson, as well as many of the ladies in the crowd came dressed in Nicole Miller Dresses. Styles that are so easy to wear….dresses that feature fabric folds, pleating and zippers, all details that have become a part of her signature style. Her looks are so popular because they not only hide many sins of the body, but look sexy and chic while doing it.
This benefit event, so graciously hosted by Neiman Marcus, was a night featuring a large crowd of the hip and chic that were there to support Gracie Cavnar’s RFS, enjoy a great party and visit with the designer herself before and after watching the best of her Spring Collection grace the runway. For those that selected to purchase a little more face time with Nicole, a memorable tasty dinner was hosted in Mariposa.
Images courtesy of Priscilla Dickson
Barbara McKnight, one of the many chefs under the Cavnar umbrella of talented chefs and great worker for the cause, was the Chef of choice for the evening. She so impressed us all by announcing that she had Googled Ms. Miller’s favorite yums that she just loved to nosh on and made that the center of her menu. Nicole liked Lamb, so a scrumptious lamb dish it was and having sat next to Nicole at dinner, Barbara may have researched her love of rhubarb but could not have predicted the passion she has for this fruit and the lengths she will travel to find it near her summer home in Sag Harbor, N.Y. The food and menu could not have been more pleasant and delightful for all…..plates were cleaned!
Now I would like to share with you a few insights from Nicole’s comments as we chatted about her inspirations and how they have changed over time,(she is after all a 30 year veteran of fashion design) and her feelings on some of the newer businesses that she has ventured in to, to keep the brand alive and relevant!
Here are some of the highlights of our conversation…
RP: What do you find to be your greatest inspiration when you are conceptualizing your newest collections? I had always recalled that Nicole Miller Fashion Week shows were themed and usually derived from your distinctive prints that are spotted throughout the collections?
NM: I went the global route for many years and would do collections from different parts of the world each season. I feel that I’ve reached them all and are looking now to architecture and graphics as my modern inspiration. (Obvious in her Fall 2011 collection, one of which she was wearing for the interview) Her Spring collection has lots of great styles in great colors that are feminine and sexy for all ages. Some of the best are shown here.
Images courtesy of Priscilla Dickson
RP: You have expanded your brand into other categories…you are in everything from skincare to handbags/shoes, home linens at Bed Bath and Beyond, what is your pet category? There must be one you love the most?
NM: Everyone buys my dresses and I love that, but one of the things that I adore is that I make is a great fitting pant…hard to find?!
RP: How is your design/product agreement working out with JC Penney…the Nicole for Nicole Miller collection?
NM: It’s doing phenomenal. It’s given me a whole new audience, it’s a lot of work as they need a lot of product every month but its worth it if it continues to do well. It is all designed in-house, as are my collections…they like a lot of prints and keeps us busy designing prints for them.
Images courtesy of Priscilla Dickson
RP: In closing, what would be your best advice for students and the newbies out there that want to be a designer?
NM: You have to love it…all aspects of it! You must have a passion for it and you must be prepared to work very, very hard! (A fact that is apparent in all that she does and for most success stories I find!)
To view more great photos from the event, head over to our chic photos section.