The title of this post is possibly a little misleading as Nicole Murray has in fact already cropped up on La Petite Anglaise twice before. Even if you’re not a dedicated follower (shame on you!) this is still unlikely to be the first you’ve heard of Nicole as since founding her eponymous line a mere 3 seasons ago, this exciting young designer has been making waves on the London fashion scene. Whilst doing her BA in Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent University Nicole’s talent was recognised by industry head hunters and she was awarded the Harold Tillman Scholarship for Young Designers to study MA Design at London College of Fashion. Nicole’s graduate collection was immediately snapped up by Harrods and since then she has simply gone from strength to strength. Having already featured Nicole twice, another piece may seem excessive but after seeing her sublime AW11 collection I felt it would just be plain wrong not to share it with you.

Nicole Murray AW11

For the coming season Nicole stays true to her signature feminine aesthetic offering up a delectable selection of mesmerizing gowns and chic separates in rich autumnal hues. Elegant silhouettes are the name of the game, perfectly complimented by the designer’s masterful use of luxurious fabrics and subtle detailing. Personally I’ve already fallen hard for a certain little lace number (below) which would be absolute after-show party perfection come fashion week. Anyway, I caught up with the lovely lady herself to get the inside scoop on her latest sartorial delights, aims for the future and pretty much everything else in between…

Nicole Murray AW11

LPA: What did you want to be when you were little? 

NM:I used to want to work in Clarks – (The foot measuring machine sold it to me!!!)

LPA: What is the biggest fashion faux pas you’ve ever made?

NM: Dressing like Mel C. from the Spice Girls circa 1996!!! (Sports clothes do NOT make a Lady)

LPA: Were you always interested in fashion? Or was there a specific experience that made you fall in love

NM: After my 1996 mishap, I think I began to take more notice of what the older girls were wearing and wanting to dress like them but much too old for my age, probably something that has stuck with me and that I still do. My grandmother was a seamstress and she taught me to sew but I didn’t grow up surrounded by glamorous women or anyone who was particularly interested in Fashion. Maybe that’s why I find the glamorous, elegant side of fashion so appealing!

LPA: Do you design with a specific woman in mind? If so, who is she?

NM: I design for the woman that I aspire to be… I don’t have a muse or icon that I could pin point and say – ‘That’s the Nicole Murray Lady’ but I have a vision in my head, of a lady that is elegant and graceful, she is intelligent and loves classic styling with a timeless elegance. I have a copy of the Helmut Newton White Woman (Big Nude III) on my wall in the studio; the image portrays such a strong female identity, I imagine each look for my collections on her, making sure that neither the dress or the woman would over play the other!

LPA: Opinions vary widely on whether or not designers should create garments that they themselves want to wear. What do you think? Do you wear your own pieces?

NM: I always make pieces that I would want to wear! It is easier to get inside your own head than someone else’s! Many pieces in the collections are pieces that I design because I want one in my own wardrobe! I can’t imagine why a designer would create anything that they wouldn’t wear themselves, as it shows that they don’t really believe in their own designs. I think that even male designers must have a female version of themselves that they secretly want to dress!

LPA: Describe your personal style in 3 words…

NM: Sophisticated, Simple, Ladylike

LPA: If you could see anyone, dead or alive, wearing your clothes, which would it be?

NM: Coco Chanel would be an obvious choice, to have a nod of approval from the woman who made classical, simple and elegant dressing fashionable! On the other hand, I would love to see Kiera Knightly on the Red Carpet in one of my gowns!

LPA: What do you think makes a woman stylish?

NM: Nonchalance, grace and confidence.

LPA: What advice would you give to other aspiring designers trying to make it in the cut throat fashion industry?

NM: Give yourself more than a season to create your first collection. Everything takes longer than you think even if you plan it down to the last detail!

LPA: After a successful show how do you like to celebrate?

NM: Usually drinks or dinner with friends, it’s always really important to let your friends know that you’re still alive when you have been locked away in a studio for the past month or two, that, followed by a pyjama day. (It’s the only day I can do it without feeling guilty!)

LPA: Who is YOUR favourite designer?

NM: Alber Elbaz for Lanvin

Talented, charming and refreshingly down-to-earth. I see BIG things on the horizon for Nicole Murray! With their timeless sophistication and effortless elegance Nicole’s pieces are absolute modern classics and the kind of garments one would treasure for years to come. Nicole Murray is stocked at Harrods and hotter-than-hot online boutique, Watch-That-Label.com so I’d recommend you get in there quick as something tells me these autumnal lovelies are not going to hang around.

Love Ella. X