NYFW: Nicole Miller Hippie Chic for Fall 2012

Pictured: Nicole MillerFall  2012 look (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

Designer Nicole Miller departed from her usual fashion staples; bold geometric patterns, updated little black dresses and her classic gunmetal dresses to show off looks that might have well suited Janis Joplin in her hey day.  Mini dresses, big wide brimmed floppy hats and loose short jackets seemingly made for Pearl, strolled down the runway.  Watching the show made me feel like I had been transported back to the Haight, Haight Ashbury San Francisco to be exact. If you stuck a feather in any of those floppy hats, they would’ve looked just like those worn by Jimi Hendrix in one of Linda McCartney’s pictures.

Pictured: Nicole Miller’s Hippie Chic Brightly patterned mini-dress ( image via screen cam by M. Hall)

While some of the styles were certainly a departure for Miller, the bright prints like those above, bore her trademark touch. There were some gorgeous prints in the Fall collection, some were almost like watercolors.  I only spotted one traditionally styled little black dress in the collection, accented with black lace.  The rest of the collection was bell bottoms, floral min-dresses and jackets trimmed with fur or fringe.  Looking at the prints and styles, I couldn’t help but wonder if Ms. Miller had been inspired by Los Angeles designer Holly Harp. Ms. Harp had a boutique on Sunset Boulevard and dressed Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell and others. ( I own some of Ms. Harp’s garments, and have bought them at thrift stores in Los Angeles.) Ms.Harp died of cancer in 1995, but I think she would’ve loved Nicole Miller Fall 2012.  It’ll be interesting to see how this collection resonates with buyers.  I adore Nicole Miller, but I’m not sure the collection will hit a chord with consumers.  The late 60s/early 70s hippie look in her Fall 2012 collection may not be as commercially successful as some of her other collections, but it certainly is artistically successful.