Nicole Miller Is On My Doppler Radar

When asked about the inspiration behind her latest collection, Nicole Miller simply replied, "This season was more about how I dress," (Hey, it's okay to be selfish once in awhile, right?) But fashion is catty, and some are accusing Miller of cheapening the otherwise streamlined Spring 2010 line with additions like opalescent fabrics, sloppy pleats, and metallic embellishments. But to my eye, this sleek, sporty collection was far from rough around the edges -- it was torrential. In fact, the weather channel was picking up tropical storms with a 65% chance of precipitation as the models made their way down the runway.

Nicole Miller, Spring 2010

At first glance, the mottled patterns and blunt edges may emanate a seemingly benign futuristic aesthetic. But when placed side-by-side with weather tracking charts, doppler radar screens, and satellite images of high pressure systems, the collection takes on an entirely new meaning (as if Nicole was lamenting the inevitable consequences of global warming while designing the collection). Do you see what I see? Or do I just have rain on the brain?