Music and fashion: inseparable platforms of self expression. From Billie Eilish’s lime green locks and Elton John’s flashy garb, musicians have been stamping their legacies with style since the dawn of live performance. And no one understands this undeniable coherence of music and style quite as well as world-renowned fashion designer, Nicole Miller. 

The Musicat team had the ultimate honor of picking Miller’s brain on a recent video call. In just a few short hours, we covered the vast expanse of her colorful and impressive career, talked about music and her favorite concert experiences, and discussed her goals for the future. From her fashion-centric upbringing to her artistic and french education, the New York-based entrepreneur is an ambitious, inspired individual with a fresh and dazzling perspective on the arts. We were delighted to speak with such an accomplished icon! 

A bit of history on Miller: she attended the Rhode Island School of Design and earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in Apparel Design. She also pursued her studies at L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne where she spent a year learning the art of fabric drapery and traditional dressmaking. All of this experience allowed her to develop and perfect her very own style, the style we know today under the Nicole Miller brand.

While COVID-19 has brought some brands and industries to a crippling halt, Miller has taken the pandemic to evolve and grow. The designer is moving to shift her brand to a lifestyle-focused direction. But possibly our favorite pandemic by-product of Miller’s? The fall 2020 fashion line. 
What we found most fascinating of her experiences was her deep love of music and its clear impression on her fashion lines. She cited British rock bands, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and The Who among her favorites. Music of all genres, especially rock, have informed her design decisions throughout her career, perhaps most explicitly in her latest  “Rock ‘n’ Royalty” line inspired by British rock influences of the 70s. 

The “Rock ‘n’ Royalty” line is a delicate-yet-edgy juxtaposition of London’s underground music scene and palace gardens. Mick Jagger-meets-Queen Elizabeth. Glam-meets-grunge. 
“It really actually started out me thinking about the misbehaving royals,” she said, referring to both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, the ‘renegades’ of Kings Road. “I just sort of tied that in with the rock music scene.” 

Miller’s collections are a blend of textures and patterns. Glamorous florals and sleek leather pants. Tuxedo blazers, puff sleeve tops and dresses. Classically elegant royal styles with a sharp, tasteful edge. Just as the “Rock ‘n’ Royalty” title conveys. 

Bold paisley patterns, plaid and crystal crowns spill across the collection. Royal purple velvet dresses, leather jackets, bell-sleeved frocks and miniskirts are standout pieces. Gender-bending boyfriend shirts, pinstripe blazers, bell bottoms, velveteen jackets and roomy pleated trousers are a brilliant nod to David Bowie’s trademark adrogenous looks. Miller’s line crosses genders and personas – a key characteristic of 70s rocker fashion.