Style Setter
Bash Decisions
Veteran party wear designer Nicole Miller dishes about afterfive edge and why her city-smart brides spurn Cinderella skirts
Above: Miller’s city-slick styles for holiday, all available at her tysons galleria store, include an ensemble of pointe pants, wool-metallic fiber jacket and a stretch lace top ($385, $355 and $400), a silk faille corset frock ($330) and a silk drape dress ($385).
It's exciting that the store's gotten so sleek. What's your favorite part of the redo?
We did a wall mural that came off of one of our dress prints. It looks like crushed paper. I think the space comes across as modern and fresh, with the stainless fixtures and Bertoia chairs.
Does architecture influence your clothing too?
It's not hard to find inspiration like that. When I redid my apartment in the 1990s, renovations inspired my collection. I made a paint-chip handbag!
Art plays a part in your design process as well.
People have always interpreted art in prints. But sometimes your interpretation is subtle. I used to do prints that looked like Jackson Pollock's work. But I don't think I'd go back there anymore — it's been done.
What does that mean for your fabrics and prints?
I've taken to doing material manipulation, photographing things and then making them into printed fabric.
You specialize in special-occasion fashion. What do you hope one of your gowns or jackets does for the woman wearing it?
Number one, I want to give women confidence. That's the key. If you look good, you'll have a good time.
What's the key to making a dress that gives someone that ego boost?
I'm good at figure camouflage and using fabrics that make people look thinner. I do elaborate pleating and a lot of dresses with power netting on the inside, which helps.
How do you design a wedding dress?
I've never been about poufs! The wedding line happened originally because customers were asking for our gowns to be made in ivory, because they liked things a little less frou-frou.
What inspired your holiday collection?
I was really thinking about my modern, edgy girl who likes the soft with the hard. She likes a dressy dress, but she might wear it with a boy's jacket.
Any tips on interpreting party dress codes this holiday season?
Black tie used to always mean long, but now people don't always do that. You aren't going to get as much wear out of a long gown, so a short one might be a better investment. Still, if you're going to the White House, go long!
You design your clothing for a range of ages. Is there any rule as to how women should dress as they get older?
No, I think that's such a weird mentality. I read this thing saying that French women don't try to dress like their daughters, but that's not true. I think you should wear whatever you can get away with.
