After graduating from Parsons and working alongside Richard Chai for several years, Nicki Cozzolino launched a namesake contemporary label for Spring 2012 that catered to cool girls “who just have ‘it’”—much like herself. After several seasons designing the eponymous brand, Cozzolino decided to relaunch the collection as NICOLINO for Fall ’13. “There’s very little separation between a designer and her work. Now, with the new name, I have a little breathing room,” Cozzolino explained at a preview. “In a way, I also didn’t think the first line felt 100 percent me. So I thought, let’s throw it out, I’m over it. The relaunch was a fresh start, and I have a more resolved and streamlined vision for what I want my brand to be.” The up-and-comer makes the kinds of clothes that she wants to wear, like supple leather jackets with detachable hoods or a cropped bouclé pullover with a leather collar and dolman sleeves. “I grew up such a tomboy and remain a creature of comfort who always wants to wear sweats, so fabric feel is really important,” she said, pointing out a pair of slouchy harem pants cut from crepe-backed-satin—they’re engineered so the soft and shiny side rubs against the legs. Another standout was a sharp ivory tuxedo with ties around the wrists and neck. Cozzolino summed up her approach best: “Everything is meant to be worn in real life and can work into your daily wardrobe.” The debut NICOLINO range ($230 to $1,400) was scooped up by a handful of small boutiques, including Satine in Los Angeles, and Cozzolino is reportedly looking into pop-up spaces for the fall.
For more information, visit www.nicolino.co.
—Brittany Adams
Photo: Courtesy of NICOLINO
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