Next year marks the 10th anniversary of Richard Nicoll's passing, and as pale and pastel blue trends for 2025, this post examines Nicoll's work, which is closely linked to shades of blue—a defining feature of his creations.
Richard Nicoll was a British fashion designer known for his modern, minimalist aesthetic and innovative tailoring. In addition to his eponymous label, Nicoll worked with Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Fred Perry and Topshop, and collaborated on cross-disciplinary projects with artists Linder Sterling and Tim Walker. Nicoll was due to become creative director for Adidas just before his death in 2016 from a heart attack.
Richard Nicoll Blue
In 2016, the Pantone Color Institute created Richard Nicoll Blue, a bespoke shade of pale blue, as a tribute to his signature use of the color in his collections. The soft, modern hue reflects Nicoll's sleek, wearable designs and lasting influence on the fashion world.
Tinkerbell Dress
Richard Nicoll's Tinkerbell Dress was a futuristic, glow-in-the-dark dress created in collaboration with Disney and Studio XO for the 2014 London Fashion Week. The dress incorporated fiber-optic technology, allowing it to emit a soft, ethereal glow, making it one of the first examples of wearable tech seamlessly integrated into high fashion. At the time, it was groundbreaking because it showcased how technology and couture could merge, pushing the boundaries of fabric innovation and redefining eveningwear with interactive, light-emitting textiles.
The Tinkerbell dress inspired and in featured in a seasonal story concept video [produced for Stylus Fashion, 2014].
Portrait
Howard Tangye’s portrait of Richard Nicoll, in the National Portrait Gallery, London, is a delicate and expressive mixed-media artwork that captures the designer’s introspective nature.
Created using Tangye’s signature style of fine, gestural lines with subtle washes of color, the portrait reflects Nicoll’s minimalist yet thoughtful approach to fashion.
The artwork is significant as Tangye, is a respected fashion illustrator and tutor at Central Saint Martins, where Nicoll studied. The portrait was made by Tangye, just before Nicoll's premature death in 2016.