Ruffles, ribbons, and cut-out shoulders are by and away the breakaway trends of the season if not the year, and there’s no shortage of them in the Resort collections. Nicole Miller includes all in her latest offering—plus knife pleats and semi-sheer lace dresses. The trend-obsessed will be pleased, but lucky for Miller, the zeitgeist-y items fit well within her own flirty and fun aesthetic. Add to that her choice to avoid tired inspiration traps of Latin flair or prairie maidens, and Miller’s take on the year’s It items feels quite fresh.
Resort found her looking towards Art Nouveau graphics, reimagining William Morris’s florals as winding patterns on marigold, coral, or pale blue backgrounds. An off-the-shoulder dress in the print with black banding around the waist is lovely, as are her fluttering miniskirts and body-con dresses with contrasting flounces at the hem. “I wanted it to feel whimsical, fun, and soft,” the designer said. A tiered romper—look 17—hits all those notes. The same can’t be said for some stretch linen pieces with black detailing that seem directly opposed to the airy fairy vibe of the rest of the collection. Granted, even a spritely girl has to go to work some days. If that’s the case, I’d advise her to reach for the bathrobe-like crepe trench from look 14.
