Edwardian photographs of Tahitian women and a gossip magazine s snaps of the Sarkozys visit with the Spanish royal family made an unlikely merge in Richard Nicoll s mind for Resort. "I used the idea of Tahitian sarongs crossed with bits of royal regalia," he said in his London studio, pulling out what he called a tiered grosgrain grass skirt, made of petrol-colored layered tabs cut like medal ribbons. The South Seas references come built into the draped dusty pink seersucker candy-stripe bustier of a jumpsuit Lily Allen has grabbed for her appearance at Glastonbury—the Erickson Beamon brooches are optional. Since Nicoll s never really one to obsess too much over his starting points, though, the real gist of his lineup is the slightly sporty ease he s made a signature. Striped ticking crisply patched onto the front of canvas tailoring carries over from his hit Fall collection, while his graphic cutouts reappear as veiled silver Lurex velvet placed on a georgette shift. Meanwhile, there was plenty of the square-cut silk dresses Nicoll s followers love. Essentially giant T-shirts, they have enough presence to transit coolly from beach to office.
