Simon Miller creative director Chelsea Hansford follows the style school that animal prints are not a statement, but neutral. So in the brand’s resort collection, cheetah and zebra designs are her version of a little black dress: “They’re running wild in this collection,” Hansford said from Los Angeles. Everything from suits, dresses, jackets to shoes come in an animal form. . . a clearly visible thread that runs through everything.
But despite the dominant presence, wild animals were not targeted mainly inspiration for this collection, which Hansford calls ‘Gala’. The name has a double meaning. Not only are many of the garments formal wear that you might wear to a black tie event, but ‘Gala’ was also the name of Salvador Dali’s wife. Surreal images, Hansford said, were a key point on her mood board.
It’s most evident in a lip-shaped bag and a lip-print dress, a nod to the Mae West Lips sofa created by Dali in 1937. Hansford also said she took metallic color cues from Dali’s melting clocks. A black evening dress is accented with a gold bow and matching gloves. Another dress is made in glittering silver sequins with a matching jacket. (The latter is a favorite color of the Simon Miller customer: “In accessories, we probably sell silver better than black,” she said.) They’re designs not for the wallflower, but for the spotlight seeker — Hansford pointed to the dresses at the famous surreal Rothschild ball, which embraced “opulence and drama.”
It’s not just eveningwear: there are some pieces that work better during the day than at night, such as striped linen dresses and button-downs. But as Hansford explained, it wasn’t about the basics. “We are not a silent luxury brand; we are, as I say, one playful luxury brand.”