Nick Smith (milliner)
Nick Smith (born November 9, 1981, in Liverpool, England) is considered one of the world's most important and foremost hat designers or milliners of the 21st century. He is a British socialite, designer, author, recording artist, actor and philanthropist. 1
Smith studied Fashion Design and Technology at the London Institute London College of Fashion and specialized in accessories. He was the only person to graduate in Millinery.2
Based in Dallas, he lives in London, New York, Ljubljana and Montreal and has designed hats for numerous celebrities including Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Christina Applegate, Justin Timberlake, Geri Halliwell, George Michael, Guy Ritchie, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Melissa Joan-Hart, Tiffany Theisson, Rose McGowan, Victoria and David Beckham, Bow Wow, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Sean P. Diddy, Red Man, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dannii Minogue, Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Christina Aguilera, Elizabeth Hurley, Nelly Furtado, Cher and Natalie Imbruglia.3
2000 he was photographed amongst Madonna, Guy Ritchie and Vinnie Jones at the Evening Standard Film Awards. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helena Bonham Carter and Matthew Lillard also attended.4
2001 Harper's & Queen named Nick Smith the "crown prince", Vanity Fair declared "Nick Smith has added new meaning to millinery with his trilby trend. The hottest A-list accessory around."5 and Vogue magazine named him as an “international trend-setter”6 making him the youngest millinery icon.
Independent fan groups formed in New York, London and Paris following his debut collection that was presented on a catwalk during London Fashion Week at the Cafe de Paris. As a regular on London, New York and Los Angeles celebrity and social circuits, Smith is regarded as England's first IT BOY.7 The London Times wrote a feature on his lifestyle which included his social secretary and bodyguards to keep crazed fans and autograph hunters at bay.8
His hats have been stocked at the most exclusive stores around the globe from New York's most famous department store Bergdorf Goodman to London's Harrods, where store owner Mohamed Al Fayed, hosted an exclusive soiree to welcome the designer in 2001.9 He went on to showcase his hats on collaborative catwalks with Scottish design brand Mac Millan during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (New York), London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week for nine seasons.10
2002 British pop sensation Gabrielle performed an intimate concert during one of Smith's soiree's to launch the “Romantics of the Sea” collection.11
Nick Smith was invited to [...] Clarks 29th American Music Awards and commissioned to design hats for over one hundred A-list presenters, performers and attendees.12
Nick Smith has been quoted by the Los Angeles Times as “Madonna's favorite milliner”.13
Smith designed the wardrobe for the So Solid Crew's performance at the Brit Awards and saved Anastacia's performance with last minute alterations to her costume following a malfunction, moments before she was due to go on stage.14
In 2002 he was commissioned to make Geri Halliwell's pieces for the British troops performance in Afghanistan following the 9-11 attacks and again weeks later for her 'Scream if you wanna go faster” tour.15
2004 he made his debut music performance with “Electric Rose” to critical acclaim on the catwalk of Mac Millan during New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week sponsored by Redken.16
2004 Screen International announced at Cannes Film Festival that Nick Smith was to take his debut acting role in Martin Scorsese's “One Life Later”.17
2005 Smith took the reins with an environmentally friendly clothing line using modal and other organic environmentally friendly fabrics and challenged the fashion industry to consider ethical fashion.18
2005 Nick Smith New York launched at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Los Angeles) with his motion picture presentation featuring The Office actress Julie Fernandez.19
He hosted a party at Aintree Racecourse's Grand National which attracted an additional audience of 25,000 to the race meetings usual attendance.20
In 2006 he won the prestigious Societas Style Award for designer of the year which recognized his visionary talent of environmental ethical clothing.21
He has been linked to dating various celebrities but bizarrely hit the headlines of the British Tabloids having “cosy drinks” with Enrique Iglesias.2223
He has managed numerous celebrities including En Vogue's Dawn Robinson and 80's pop sensation Samantha Fox and assisted Michael Jackson with publicity and management for UK activities.24
2007 he was a Judge of Miss Deaf UK along with Lindsey Stoppard, Liz Fuller, Melissa Sterry, Bobby Davro and Louis Marriet, which was filmed by the BBC as a fly on the wall three part one hour documentary series.25
2007 Nick Smith launched the world’s first organic, dairy free, gourmet designer chocolate "couture du chocolat". Flavors included mint, organge, lemon, hazelnut, rose and lavendar.26
2008 he launched the Nick Smith Foundation, an American 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization, striving to assist children and families with chronic diseases through eating disorders.27
2008 fashionspace.com reported that Vogue announced Smith's return to London Fashion Week with [...] by Millinery, a collection which features vintage Jimmy Choo shoes worked into bonnets, to raise money for charity and become a touring exhibition after the end of LFW. Smith told Vogue that "the collection mixes both couture and art".28
2008 Smith has been announced as the lead actor in UH Film “Cannes Can”.29
He has been a writer in residence at The Adolphus Hotel, Dallas for his debut novel “Rock Royalty” due for release winter 2009.30
References
- 31 Mercedes-Benz Fashion week Nick Smith 2005 collection
- 32 Vogue report Nick Smith performs on Redken catwalk
- 33 UH Films website, Nick Smith in movies editorial
- 34 IMDB record of Miss Deaf UK, cast announcement
- 35 Liverpool Echo interview with Nick Smith
- 36 The Independent Nick Smith fashion editorial
- 37 fashion news story on Nick Smith
- 38 Mirror 3AM Column, Enrique Iglesias and Nick Smith cosy drinks
- 39 The Daily Mirror article on Nick Smith
- 40 Nick Smith in The Daily Mirror
- 41 Pop Dirt reports that Nick Smith, Enrique Iglesias cosy drinks, are mobbed by fans
- 42 BBC editorial, Nick Smith, Miss Deaf UK
- 43 editorial, Nick Smith judges Miss Deaf UK
- 44 Nick Smith, London Fashion Week editorial
- 45 Nick Smith biographical details
- 46 Nick Smith performs on Redken Runway
- 47 Nick Smith announces creative projects
- 48 Nick Smith collections editorial
- 49 Nick Smith Michael Jackson events, Brit Awards, Celebrities, Madonna, American Music Awards & Tour editorial
- 50 Mac Millan document Redken catwalk where Nick Smith performs music