Simon Miller is still touring the world. After visiting the Scottish Highlands and the Tuscan countryside, Chelsea Hansford found inspiration for her pre-fall 2024 collection in Tangier, Morocco. Although her chosen destinations always boast natural beauty, Hansford consistently takes an interest in the architecture of the places she visits. “I envisioned a woman from our collection lounging in the beautiful, plant-filled arched doorways,” she said. This season, she embraced the colors and shapes typical of the African port city while staying true to the brand’s style.
The balancing act appears to have paid off. Hansford knows exactly who the Simon Miller customer is and what they desire. “It’s designed for the working creative,” she explained. Consequently, much of the see-now, buy-now collection focuses on transitional wear, featuring several tunics and matching pants. The boldest piece is a striped minidress-length vest paired with matching pants—a nod to Tangier’s hand-painted walls. “You can wear it over the slacks to the office and still feel bold and playful,” she suggested. “But then you can remove the pants in the evening and add a heel.”
Hansford’s creativity truly shines when she embraces her playful side. A sheer mesh slip dress adorned with green hand-crocheted flowers, strategically placed, stands out, as does a knit bodycon dress with fringe spiraling around the wearer’s body. Some pieces, particularly the accessories, seem to offer variations on existing items, but there’s excitement about where Simon Miller will go next.
