Nicole Miller knows better than to fall too deeply into a nostalgia spiral. After discovering a veritable treasure trove of vintage Holiday magazines in her parents’ attic, Miller didn’t channel dated ’60s silhouettes or souvenir jackets as other designers might have done. Instead, she merged the idea of travel with already trendy concepts. Bright, fun florals happily clashed on day-to-evening dresses, while a leather moto jacket came with straps so it can be worn off-the-shoulder. Jeans were slim, dresses were flirty, and everything had a real-world ease to it. This strain of no-fuss fashion has become Miller’s calling card of late; buy one of her items and you have a guarantee that you’ll look of-the-moment and be comfortable too.
That might sound like a slight, but real clothes for real people are really in right now. (See the proliferation of leggings, athleisure, hoodies, blazers, et cetera on the runways.) With that in mind, it would serve the brand to stop hunting for big, broad seasonal themes and instead focus that energy on developing its core offering further. Those mash-up floral dresses are candy for women of all ages, occupations, and obsessions. What was less successful was a series of cargo jackets and skirts with beaded airplane embroideries or a passport-stamp print dress. Any woman would trade dressing like an airplane for having something chic to wear on an airplane in an instant.