‘I cannot wait for Costume National to get here. There’s something very intriguing about it. I love Galliano; I love his collection. It’s very eastern-inspired. I really like Stella McCartney, too. I am really excited about Ernesto Esposito … his shoes are the best! I have Imitation of Christ which I always love!’

ABOVE LEFT: Part of her London group, a Courrèges-inspired dress. TOP: Two-piece fringe ensemble. CENTRE: More from Nicholson’s Paris set, her lace jacket. ABOVE: Asymmetric pom-pom ribbon skirt. LEFT: Nicholson’s approach to fashion includes having fun—evidenced by this Pacific-inspired multi-ruffle jacket. FAR LEFT: Coral ruffle dress, from the Spanish Lullaby designs.

   ‘I cannot wait for Costume National to get here. It’s really sexy and the shapes are fabulous. There’s something very intriguing about it. I love Galliano; I love his collection. It’s very eastern-inspired. I really like Stella McCartney, too. I am really excited about Ernesto Esposito. He is from Milan and does these incredible shoes. He has done several designer lines and his shoes are the best! I have Imitation of Christ which I always love!’
   Why open a store? From Nicholson’s perspective, it was an easy decision. ‘I did the store so I could buy the things I wanted to sell. My friends always liked my finds; and they liked hanging out in my closet. I basically have one huge closet to share things and I have only one of each item on the floor. The vintage stuff is in the secret closet; you can go in only if you are invited. It’s the ultimate girl party for your best buddies to share secret fashion finds.’
   Her designs, like her store, aren’t for everyone. ‘If (people) aren’t into being playful and wearing fun type clothing, they aren’t going to like it. My mom brings her friends here and they like it, even though not all of them are into fashion. It’s not boring. It’s not predictable or stuffy; it’s very wearable.’ Yet it’s not what you find in every store or shop around the corner either. According to Ms Nicholson, one of her major influences ‘was growing up and going to awards shows and seeing all the glamorous women. Now I am making gorgeous dresses for glamorous women of today.’
   Jennifer Nicholson doesn’t limit herself creatively either. She has created a harmony of themes in her "Love Letters" spring 2003 collection. Her inspiration is ‘an American girl on her first un-chaperoned travel abroad, writing passionate love letters to her beau back home. My spring collection is an ode to love, influenced by my life of travel and dreams.’ Love Letters is a more fully developed collection than previous ones and truly reflects Nicholson’s vision of fashion—and life. ‘This is a natural progression from the first two collections. The first two (collections) were things that I were dying to make and this one was more serious. It’s a more thoughtful representation of what I could do.’
   Each group represents a different city she has visited as well as a different take on the fashion icons of that locale. "Swinging London" features silhouettes of the ’60s with strong geometric lines and Courrèges-inspired colours and shapes. The butterfly appliqué suit is the perfect example of the Courrèges homage in this group. "French Lace" is about the city of light and romance—Paris! This group features a marriage of the 1920s and 1970s in a new look of fresh sorbet pastels with lace over silk habutai cut into flirty asymmetrical dresses and lovely jackets.

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