New York Fashion Week

NYFW: Nicole Miller Spring Summer 2012 a Runway Rainbow

By Mary Hall | September 12, 2011

Pictured: A bright patterned dress at Nicole Miller SS 2012
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

Designer Nicole Miller’s Spring/Summer 2012 show burst onto the runway with a blast of colors and prints on Friday at New York Fashion Week. The show was called Fast Forward Rewind, and it had a bit of the past in the 1980s styles on board and some 1990’s looks too. According to the show notes “the speed of wheels in motion..the velocity of a bicycle racing towards the goal” was the designer’s inspiration. To me, the whole thing reminded me of the Rolling Stones song, “She’s a Rainbow.” There were colors everywhere, like a rainbow. There were colors all around, but not necessarily like the sunset going down 🙂

I could see the bicycle rider’s reflection in the racer back tanks and the checkerboard patterns. Colors were bright with a palette that included Turquoise, Celadon, Orange, Purple, Fuschia and Watermelon. Can you picture this explosion of color on the runway? If your style is bold, and you want to stand out, then you will love some of the head to toe printed garments in this collection. Like the jumpsuit in the photo below with the patchwork style print on it. This is not the piece for a woman who wants to blend in at the party. It is also not a piece that will flatter every figure. If you are not tall and reed thin, I don’t believe these colorful patterns will be complimentary.

Pictured: Patchwork Jumpsuit Nicole Miller SS 2012
(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

I was more impressed by the black and white striped dresses in the collection (see below) accented with a colorful print that flounced when the model walked. This dress is a more commercial, mainstream dress that I can see on the racks at Nordstrom and Bloomingdales for Spring/Summer 2012. The vertical strips will create a slender silhouette and the bright print at the bottom is not overwhelming. Of course this is a more conservative look, but I think this is the one the department stores will pick up and want to show off on the retail floor.

Pictured: A Nicole Miller striped dress with patchwork print for accent walks by

bloggers Tom and Lorenzo (photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: The flounce of the dress in motion at Nicole Miller SS 2012 (photo: Getty Images.)

Other pieces in the collection included striped loose fitting tops and leggings, casual striped dresses and a power net dress with leather appliques. Many of the dresses had color blocked panels that would outline the wearer’s form around the bodice and hips. Again, these dresses won’t necessarily be flattering to every figure. Bottom line, there’s a lot going on in this collection. Maybe a bit too much for my tastes. There are some great pieces and a Turquoise jacket that looked amazing. But I’m not sure that patchwork prints, checkerboard blouses and retro 80’s style jumpsuits will be the hot ticket for Spring/Summer 2012. What do you think readers?