NEW YORK TALES .- In 1986, Nicole Miller opened her first shop on Madison Avenue.[2] Miller's fashion line launched in the mid 1980s with a conversational print men's tie collection that became a hit in the fashion world for a number of years.[2] Miller made headlines in September 1998 by presenting her spring 1999 clothing line one week ahead of her French counterparts, becoming the first American to do so.[12]

In 2002, Miller designed costumes for the Houston-based Stages Repertory Theatre production of García Lorca's "Blood Wedding,"[13]

In a departure from designing adult fashions, Miller designed a Sesame Street line of clothing for babies and toddlers in 2004.[14] She also created a line of makeup products for Melaleuca.[15][16]

Since 2005, Miller has designed a line of affordable clothes, handbags, footwear, fashion jewelry and other accessories for J.C. Penney. J.C. Penney credits this collaboration as result of extensive customer input.[17] Miller also designs a home furnishings collection that is distributed through Bed Bath and Beyond.[3]

Celebrities of varying ages including Anjelica Huston,[4] Beyoncé Knowles,[4] Angelina Jolie,[6] Brooke Shields,[3] LeAnn Rimes,[3] Lauren Hutton,[2] Jennifer Stone, Susan Sarandon[2] and Eva Longoria[2] have worn, and continue to wear, her designs. Miller designed clothes for singer Cyndi Lauper's world tour.[18] She created gowns for Sheryl Crow to wear at the Grammys.[18]

Miller and her partner, Kohnheim, have been in business together for over 28 years; the label has brought in $650 million in annual sales.[4]

Currently, Miller's women's collection apparel is sold in more than 1,200 independent specialty stores and namesake boutiques in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and in the affluent resort town of La Jolla. Her fashion line is also sold in department stores such as, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.[19]

In 2012, Miller joined the Fashion Advisory Board of Balluun.com, a fashion technology start-up focused on connecting fashion designers and retailers to conduct wholesale trade.[20]