The colorful capital of Cuba—Havana—is rich in culture, history and architecture, all of which directly inspired Nicole Hanley when she set out to create her latest collection. Since its inception in 2014, the HANLEY brand (formerly Hanley Mellon) has been dramatically influenced by Creative Director Nicole Hanley’s wanderlust, from Seville to St. Barths. The Greenwich, CT native’s new collection, her third presented during New York Fashion Week, translates her recent trip to Havana, Cuba, into a bright yet refined palette.
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Sundrenched and faded facades of the city inspired unusual textures and patterns as well as layering. “The designs, meant to be mixed and matched to comprise a complete wardrobe, expand on the sportswear brand’s core values: a sense of ease, balance of proportion, texture and color and attention to detail,” says Hanley. “Every piece is designed with the intent that it be important in and of itself, and to the collection as a whole.” And for the many women who find their look and stick to it, Hanley says this collection is not only subtly military inspired but it can also serve as a uniform of sorts: “The ease of a uniform can be quite liberating and, as such, HANLEY seeks to make sophisticated dressing easier for women.” The collection is available at select retailers as well as HANLEY’s new Upper East Side boutique and hanleynyc.us
Nicole’s Top Picks For Spring
1. A Fresh Take on Sunglasses
“There are some chic, new sunglass shapes—my favorites are from Dior, Olivia Palermo X Westward Leaning and SmokeXMirrors.”
2. A Monochromatic Bikini
“I’ve already bought [a] Same Swim bikini. It’s chic and comfortable, and the material is thick enough to keep me feeling secure in the important places.”
3. A Cartier Classic
“I am a sucker for almost anything Cartier, so if I were to add another piece to my collection of Cartier jewelry, it would be their Trinity necklace.”
4. A Statement Scarf
“Keep your wardrobe current season to season by investing in an interesting accessory. The Louis Vuitton prints are beautiful.”
5. Beautiful Lingerie
“Lingerie can look great for any occasion, especially as seen in the Givenchy and Alberta Ferretti shows.”
Want even more of Nicole and her stylish life and must-haves? She’s taking over our Instagram account ALL DAY on Tuesday, March 1st. Be sure to head over to our Instagram page — @serendipitymagazine — so you don’t miss any of the exclusive access she’s giving just to us!
