"It all started in the desert," Nicole Miller said at her lookbook shoot today. "We were horseback riding [at a spa retreat near Phoenix] and there were lots of snakes around. Riding in the sand, the sun is always flashing at you, so I wanted to do something reflective."
What emerged is a collection of desert-ready tops and bottoms, many embroidered with opalescent sequins and mirrors, others Westernized with a python print. The clothes were more casual than one has come to expect from Miller, who has been on something of a run lately, thanks to formfitting, ruched-just-right wiggle dresses that look as good on a member of the Revenge cast as they do on a style-conscious lawyer. But as mentioned, other than a few sequin-accented cocktail dresses—each with a nipped-in waist and easy A-line shape—the focus was on separates.
The super-stretchy legging pant done in a moody "Joshua Tree" digital print felt as chic and sporty as neoprene, but without the requisite heaviness. A cream silk bomber jacket looked light and versatile—as good for throwing over a printed tee as a ball gown. While some of the mirrored pieces didn't have the Nicole Miller sophistication, a cream silk tee studded with light reflectors delivered the message she was aiming to get across.
