The hallucinogenic hues and beach-y neons from her recent Spring and Resort collections had Nicole Miller feeling like it was time for a palette cleanser. For pre-fall, she designed a lineup entirely in black and ivory. But where there was a lack of color, Miller made up for it with prints and embellishments. A number of separates featured a geometric "pianoforte" pattern, while others were done in a burnout giraffe and kaleidoscope motif. Plaid was also on hand, turning up on a lightweight tunic and dress, the latter of which was trimmed in leather. Intricate beadwork and chain details appeared throughout, most notably on a series of T-shirts—one of which was paired with a pony-hair miniskirt—and on the sleeves of sleek black dresses. "I design for the uptown, downtown girl," Miller said. "So she always has feminine style but with a tough edge." The collection's outerwear was its strongpoint. A black denim blazer with leather panels and nailhead studs, and a raffia moto jacket with tweed sleeves will serve Miller's girl well.
