Photography by Ellen of The Perennial Style

Earlier this month, I was SO HONORED to co-host a Meet and Greet with Nicole Miller at TOOTSIES Dallas alongside Ellen and Lauren.  She is doing a tour to showcase her super fabulous and fun Spring line!  Can you tell that I like it A LOT!  This was the SECOND time I was able to chat with Nicole Miller!  {Remember when she visited Plano, TX here?!}  Sweets, champagne, and shopping… sounds like a wonderful afternoon don’t you think?!

with Nicole, Lauren, and Ellen

fabulous cookies by Kaitlynn McConville

Do you recognize this gorgeous gal, Cathy?  Psst, she’s one of my friends from Chic at Every Age!

Photography by James Edward

Her collection is seriously B-A-N-A-N-A-S!  {There are actual bananas on some of the tops!  LOL!}  My fave top is the tutti-frutti crop top, embellished with jeweled fruit on a sheer front and leather panel back.  Think Carmen Miranda meets Rihanna in a good way!  BTW, don’t you need a pair of pineapples on your elbows – this sweater happens to be one of NM’s faves too!  The prints that have me obsessing in a big way are the orchid jungle and origami pineapple pieces.

For the event, I did some pattern mixing with stripes, birds of paradise print, and pink of course!  I was also able to chat with Nicole about the newest collection.  Here’s a quick recap of our chat…

S: WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE COLLECTION?

N: My inspiration for the collection was Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  Most recently, I was in Sao Paolo and something caught my eye which inspired me to do the sidewalk print.  We watched Flying down to Rio, a movie from the 40s, and that scene where the girls are on the top of the airplane wing inspired a photo shoot in Florida with Trop Rouge.

S: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PIECE IN THIS SPRING COLLECTION?

N: I’m really hard pressed to pick a favorite!  I really like the jacket that you’re wearing and my dress from last night.  Also, this pineapple sweater that I’m wearing, I LOVE.  It also comes with a matching pineapple skirt.

S: DO YOU HAVE ANY ELSE IN THE WORKS FOR ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES?

N: Shoes and handbags are expanding.  {I did notice that Nicole Miller tote that she wore into TOOTSIES!}

S: YOU WERE BORN IN FORT WORTH!  WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST MEMORY OF FORT WORTH?

N: I was there for just a couple of years… I always think of Cowtown and cow auctions!  {BTW, we went off on a tangent because I showed her this picture of my BFF and I with our kids at Billy Bob’s on a cow… and I found out that Vera Wang and Nicole’s sister also adopted!}

S: WE ARE LOOKING AT YOUR SPRING COLLECTION, BUT YOU JUST WRAPPED UP YOUR FALL RUNWAY SHOW!  WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THAT UPCOMING COLLECTION?

N: It’s called ‘The Dark Side’ and it’s so good.  We have some nice fur pieces and all the forest prints.  {See the ‘behind the scenes’ from the runway show here!}

S: BTW, I LOVE YOUR HOME IN ELLE DECOR. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER AS WELL!  A LITTLE OFF TOPIC, BUT DOES YOUR HUSBAND GIVE YOU FREE REIGN TO DECORATE THE HOUSE {because mine is very opinionated!}?

N: My husband has quite a sense of taste himself so it’s collaborative.  I had a lot of 50s French furniture when we got together so we purchased things together.  And he gets on these kicks… like right now he’s on a ceramic kick so our dining table is full of ceramics.  He’s actually very good at arranging the furniture.  When we moved to the Hamptons, we were trying to get unpacked.  I was invited to dinner, and when I returned he had the whole place done up!  {What a dream husband, right!}

Happy Monday beautiful friends!  Hope you enjoy her thoughts and the collection as much as I do!  What’s your favorite piece from the Spring Collection?!  

GET THE LOOK

NICOLE MILLER birds of paradise jacket, striped crop, and giselle skirt available at TOOTSIES || JCREW pop flower necklace c/o || B by BRIAN ATWOOD heels via Last Call || PRADA double bag || HOUSE OF HARLOW chelsea sunglasses {in berry}  || TOM FORD aphrodisiac lipstick