Posts with tag NicoleMiller

There are all kinds of bargains to be found on Cyber Monday. That's the day when everyone who was too tired, lazy or chicken to hit the stores on Black Friday, gets back to work and spends the day online looking for deals.

Luxe is out, poor is in. Ok, maybe not so much -- but still, why the big spenders aren't necessarily cutting back because of the recession, they are less likely to flaunt their wealth. It's no longer fashionable to be flashy.

Nicole Miller has proven that yellow isn't going anywhere. What was once just the "it" color for Summer '07 and a bold accent for Fall '07, now seems to have some real staying power in fashion world as it returns for Spring 2008.

Nicole Miller's collection nailed the subtle and sexy sophisticated of the modern women. Her color palette had a mixture of what every woman should have in her closet; black, white, shades of gray, soft neutrals, pastels including a soft blue and splash of violet, and as mentioned above ... yellow.

The pieces in her Spring 2008 collection were also filled with staples. Lady-like pencil skirts, high waisted pants, and blouses that will outfit you for the office. A nice selection of flowing gowns that would be lovely for a formal event and long flowing dresses in bohemian prints that are a bit more toned down. The military inspired jackets and walking shorts could easily take you into a weekend look. There was even a sexy little number; a black and gold mini dress with an open back that would work on a hot date.

My impression of the show was that it was versatile, a little something for everyone. Versatile is good for your closet but it didn't quite read well for me on the runway. And on a side note, Nicole Miller's models looked extra hungry.

Overall rating: I could take it or leave it, well I would take it if someone gave it to me in a heart beat.

When Issac Mizrahi teamed up with Target to create a budget-friendly line of trendy clothes, he started a revolution in the world of fashion. But the present king of affordable fashion can't hold court forever, especially with designer heavy-weights like Nicole Miller and Vera Wang also vying for mid-range market domination. After all, Nicole Miller now has an exclusive designer range, which is sold at J.C. Penney while Wang's line for Kohl's is set to launch in 2007.

Perhaps then this question is worth asking: Who do you think is next?

If I were in charge of operations over at Target or H&M (which I'm not!), I would be heavily courting both Michael Kors and Tim Gunn. With their Project Runway popularity, I can imagine that Gunn and Kors would cause the kind of consumer hysteria which would make Stella McCartney's H&M launch seem like no big deal.

Make it work, Tim!

Inevitably, we all want to look amazing for our co-workers at least once a year, and there's no better occasion to "wow" our friends than the annual office holiday bash. But what is appropriate to wear? So many women have asked me this exact question in the past couple of years, and believe it or not, there is a fairly simple answer. So when in doubt, follow these few rules for easy holiday gorgeousness.

1) Buy a dress! I have nothing against skirt and top combos, but seriously, you have two separate pieces to deal with, and then once you add shoes, jewelry, and a jacket -- too many decisions! Stick with a dress, and you'll cut your stress in half.

2) Unless your invitation says "black-tie formal", a knee-length or just below knee-length dress is always appropriate. Look for richer fabrics such as velvet, silk, or stretch satin. Chiffon and lighter fabrics can work as long as they are in season-appropriate colors (think dark, saturated hues).

3) Sleeve length is totally up to you. You can go as bare as strapless, or as covered as full-length sleeves. As long as you like the dress and feel comfortable, you are going to look fabulous in any type of sleeve.

4) Bring a long coat, preferably in a black or in a print that picks up on the color of your dress. If you don't have a coat or would rather wear an item you don't have to check at the door, try a wrap. Wraps come in cashmere, silk, fur (real and faux), velvet, and just about any other fabric combo you could imagine. The best thing about wraps is that they can be twisted and pinned (with a pretty brooch) in limitless combinations. You can disguise almost all "lumps and bumps" with a cleverly placed wrap.

5) Sheer black or nude hose (Hanes' "Barely Black" are foolproof) work with almost any type of dress. If you want to be a little more daring, or are wearing a shorter dress, opaque tights can be a trendy look, but beware, as any opaque stocking tends to dress down a cocktail look.

6) You can wear open or closed-toed shoes with your cocktail dress. If you go with an open-toed option, make sure that your hosiery are made without the telling toe seam.

7) Try to match your necklace to the neckline of your dress. For example, if you are wearing a deep-v neckline, try a necklace with a simple drop. This ensures that you flatter (but don't take away from) your dress.

8) Have fun! Confidence is universally beautiful. Have fun and know you look great, because you do!

A foursome of fashion's most famous were on hand yesterday to ring the closing bell at the end of the trading day at the NASDAQ stock exchange. Designers Nicole Miller and Betsey Johnson were on hand, as well as model Gemma Ward and IMG fashion vice-president Fern Mallis. After counting down from ten, the women pressed the closing bell, then signed their names to an electronic board, which broadcast their signatures on billboards around Times Square. Admittedly, no one in this group was an avid follower of the NASDAQ. But NASDAQ shouldn't take that personally, especially considering that the largely-male NASDAQ traders probably weren't avid wearers of Johnson's off-kilter designs or Nicole Miller's elegant gowns.