THE CITY GIRL GOES BEACH-PRINT WILD

I’m so used to seeing Nicole Miller as a celebrity-red carpet standard, I forget she designs for the rest of us, as well.  But every Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I’m reminded of the style this renowned designer brings to every day life.

This season, Miller’s collection combined an explosion of color with a real street edge.  Her statement started with the first look down the runway, a long leather coat over skin-tight leggings.  That was followed by the same leggings with a black cut-out top with a real punk feel.  Then came summer.  A series of bright, tropical prints and blocks of bold color decorated strapless dresses, pants, skirts and tops.  The looks were young, fresh and incredibly wearable.

The flowery patterns were prevented from getting to girly, as each look had a real edge (helped along by the slick, multi-colored hair on many of the models).  Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to harbor a punk-princess side to appreciate this collection.

There were plenty of looks for the girls of summer.  Dresses, shorts and blazers were soft and feminine, and every one creative.  A geometric sleeveless dress with a geometric design in patterns, pink and grey was truly beautiful.

The edge returned when the bright prints turned from tropical to inter-galactic, the bright lights of the galaxies mixed with cool shorts, tight leggings and short, flirty skirts.  And when the two prints combined in fitted summer dresses, the result seemed impossible on paper, but worked perfectly on the runway.

There’s a reason why Nicole Miller keeps selling, season after season.  This amazing collection is how a veteran designer remains effortlessly relevant.

Photography: Anton Brookes