Designer's Picks: Savannah Miller

The case may be made that we're anglophiles, a charge that we're happy to accept. There's something about the way our favorite bunch of British trendsetters dress that's invariably pleasing to behold. We realize that this sentiment holds true in the design department too, as we find ourselves turning to both high street and high luxury British brands for wardrobe help on a regular basis. Of course, while there are many gifted members of the fashion community across the pond, one whom we can't get enough of is Savannah Miller.



As the driving force behind the contemporary line Twenty8Twelve, Miller's sharp eye (which was honed studying at Central St. Martins in London and working for Alexander McQueen) and prescient design choices are to be commended. Working with her sister—the actress and much-watched trendsetter Sienna Miller, whose serves as the brand's muse—the collection grows stronger by the season and has become a mainstay for fashionable urbanites.

We figured that anyone who's responsible for creating some of our most-worn pieces has got to have interesting taste overall, so we asked Miller to share a few of her favorite things with WhoWhatWear.com's wonderful readers. Lucky for all of us, she politely subjected herself to our rigorous interview process and detailed all of her fashion and beauty obsessions du jour. Comprised of everything from what's on her iPod to the runway collections* she can't get enough of, we have a feeling that you're going to swoon for Miller's selections. Read on for the inside scoop on these items and be prepared to fall in love with a few new favorites in today's Designer's Picks.

Cutler and Gross 0890 Sunglasses ($410)
When it comes to sunglasses, Miller goes for vintage. She's currently wild about a pair from the Cutler and Gross Vintage store in London, which specializes in deadstock designer eyewear from the late sixties through the eighties. Her shades of choice have a wayfarer-style angularity—check them out on her blog for British Vogue—much like these new 0890 Sunglasses from Cutler and Gross' Fall 09 collection. We also spotted the hand-made frames in tortoise ($350) and amber ($348) at various online boutiques, but check the Cutler and Gross website for all shades and stockist information.

Golden Silvers True Romance ($18)
When she's on the road or in the studio working on Twenty8Twelve's latest collection, one thing Miller never leaves home without is True Romance by the London band Golden Silvers. Her song of the moment is "Arrows of Eros," which Miller says is "fresh and fun and puts me in the mood to design all day long," but we suggest downloading the whole album—it's really good!

Twenty8Twelve Grady Leather Jacket ($645)
No matter if you've got a million little leather jackets or nary a single one, we have a feeling that this darling version might make you reach for your credit card. The cropped moto is Twenty8Twelve's newest offering and having seen it up close, we can assure you it's a quality piece. "In my mind," Miller modestly says, "this is the perfect biker jacket." As owners of a slightly older (yet similar) model from a few seasons ago, we can confidently say that the designer, is indeed, right. We wear ours all the time and never fail to get compliments!

Twenty8Twelve Sienna Jeans ($283) in Indigo
Miller is majorly obsessed with two different Twenty8Twelve jeans: the charcoal Sienna Jean, shown above, is her favorite classic fit, closely followed by a newcomer, the Devoto Legging, which will be off the runway and in stores shortly. Of the former, Miller praises the jean's skinny-yet-flattering fit, while the latter has a fashion-forward silhouette with a high waist and second-skin fit.

NARS Lipstick ($24) in Jungle Red
Apparently we're not the only ones who are obsessed with bright red lips! We love Miller's choice—a classic red that's beloved by makeup artists and beauty junkies alike—and completely support her enthusiasm for this lipstick shade. It's definitely a universally flattering hue, so if you don't already own one, we suggest investing in a tube.

Miller Harris Parfume ($95) in Feuilles de Tabac
Miller doesn't wear a perfume—her husband is allergic to it—but she praises the noses at Miller Harris for making sophisticated fresh fragrances. "I think it would be the ultimate luxury experience to custom make my own," she says. "I love amber and rose, jasmine and citrus—but probably not all together!" We haven't commissioned a custom-made fragrance from these scent-savants yet, but in the meantime, we'll content ourselves with the company's prêt-a-porter perfumes, which are available at Sephora.

Dominic Jones Single Claw Ring ($500, 44 113 369 8040)
The online fashion community's been buzzing about the breakout jewelry line from London designer Dominic Jones and it turns out that Miller's a fan too. In addition to this viciously gorgeous ring, the collection includes studs that look like rose thorns, fang earrings, and leather gloves that come with their own white gold or rose gold nails. Oh, and did we mentioned that these pieces are modeled by the likes of former GOTM Alice Dellal and Lizzy Jagger? In short: the line's a must-see.

Tabitha Simmons Sally Lace Up Boots ($1895)
When Miller mentioned that she was mad about a mulberry-colored pair of booties by stylist-turned-designer Tabitha Simmons, we were a bit wary. But after examining the goods, like the above ostrich/suede shoe, we had to concede that Simmons new project is quite impressive. If you're all topped up on ankle boots, fret not, because one of Simmons' other styles might tempt you, like the buff-and-black Karen Bow Wedges ($895)…

Seneca Rising Vest ($95)
Everyone in the WhoWhatWear.com office was charmed by Miller's shirt selection: a cropped button-front racerback top from rising LA-label Seneca Rising. "The knits are super soft and cut very low in the arm," she shares, a combination that 's sporty and sexy. We think this top's the perfect piece to wear unbuttoned over a fitted tank or thrown over a bright bandeau, plus, it will bring a fashionable bohemian touch to any outfit. Ring the OAK boutique in New York (212.677.1293) for the exact top above, or check out a pale green and white version at Vionnet's online shop.

*Last, but not least, we must mention two of the key runway looks Miller loves right now. The first is a super snug black bodysuit by Alexander Wang, the second, a swirly-print satin jumpsuit by Erdem. "I can't get enough of Alexander Wang, quite frankly," Miller says. "The man can do no wrong." She's equally enthusiastic about the latter, stating that she loves Erdem prints and thinks the all-in-one pictured above is a "knockout." While the body-con suit is impossible for most to wear, try Alexander Wang's Long Sleeve Fitted Dress ($490) and a pair of Lara Lace Up Velvet Booties ($590) to get a similar effect. While we've yet to find the Erdem jumpsuit online, we did track down the Green Floral Satin Top ($485), which has the same print as Miller's selection.