Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Nicole Miller represents the apex of modern cool. Inspired by Andy Warhol's pop portraits, David Salle's cartoon imagery, global cultures, films and slick modern architecture, the designer puts the fun in funky. Like many women designers, she drapes fabric and sizes clothing that makes the most of a woman's figure. Her feminine and timeless pieces are quintessential examples of contemporary American design.
Background
Her bicultural provenance has given Miller a worldly perspective. Born to a French mother and an American father, the designer studied on both sides of the Atlantic, at the Rhode Island School of Design and at Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Among her passions were painting, sculpture and classic couture. Her unique background allowed her to straddle the worlds of traditional design and experimental art.
Star-Studded Style
When celebrities want to rock a nonconformist look but still maintain Hollywood glamor, they turn to Miller's clothing. Sirens such as Angelina Jolie, Lauren Hutton, Eva Longoria and Halle Barry wear the label beautifully, showing off its form-fitting capabilities. Bold patterns, asymmetrical hems or necklines, off-the-shoulder tops, and sleek chemises create a look to remember.
The Miller Empire
A relative newcomer to the world of American design, Miller and Bud Konheim launched the label in 1982. Evening wear and sportwear defined the brand's early years, but the Miller label now represents a range of formal and casual clothing lines as well as handbags, lingerie, swimwear, sunglasses, footwear, fragrances and beauty products. For people seeking beauty on a budget, Miller has also created two lines of affordable and chic clothing available only at JCPenney.
Miller's Market
Women who swear by Calvin Klein and Chanel appreciate Miller's attention to fine design details, while women who walk on the wild side love Miller's proclivity for a touch of flash. The signature Miller style features brilliant prints and patterns inspired by global design, pop culture, retro glam and vintage fashion. One of Miller's first professed obsessions was Celtic knots, whose shapes she has used on a variety of designs.
