SAVANNAH MILLER Next, please!
Modelling her latest designs, Savannah Miller tells us about her new collaboration with Next, moving into sportswear and why sister Sienna will always be her style icon…
Having cut her teeth under Alexander McQueen and Matthew Williamson, Savannah Miller knows a thing or two when it comes to design. She stepped out on her own with Twenty8Twelve, the label she founded with her actress sister Sienna, before launching Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams and then an eponymous bridal label. Now she’s taken her sought-after boho style to high street favourite Next – all while raising children Moses, now 16, Lyra, 13, and Bali, nine.
We caught up with the 42-year-old designer to find out more.
Who’s your style icon, Savannah?
“There are so many great ones, aren’t there? I’m obsessed with [1960s star] Jane Birkin back in the day – so gorgeous.
“My sister Sienna always looks amazing – I find her style inspiring as I feel like she’s always ahead of the game. When we worked together on Twenty8Twelve, I was always surprised by her. She’d come up with ideas and I’d be like: ‘We can’t do that. It’s not physically possible and why would you want to do that?’ then the next season it would be a trend. She had a real
eye for what was coming. I float ideas past her and she always pushes me on, which is helpful as I play it safe, and she’s much braver than me style-wise.”
Where else do you draw your inspiration from?
“All over the place. I love vintage clothing; I’ve got a massive collection now and I’m looking to those pieces for interesting details.
“They don’t make clothes the way they used to and there was a lot more consideration in those times. On the denim shorts, for example, we’ve got a hole that’s been repaired with hand-stitch, which is only something that would’ve been done back when something needed repairing. Nowadays, people just chuck everything away. I love those little details that feel considered and special.
“Also, I’m textile driven, so if I see a nice fabric, then I’ll think: ‘This would be amazing in a…’
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel; I want women to feel good, comfortable, optimistic, positive and all those good things.”
Tell us about your collection with Next…
“Essentially, what I was trying to do was bring together all the key components to a summer wardrobe – you know when you go on holiday to somewhere like Greece or Ibiza and you see these incredible beach dresses and think: ‘Oh my God, I want that.’ I wanted to bring that slightly elevated bohemian feeling.
“It feels like they could be vintage pieces that you’ve collected over the years. They could have been found in some special place; they all have that special feel and print handwriting and texture that feels kind of eclectic and timeless in a way.
“I think it’s important that women can collect clothing and keep it for a long time. I don’t believe in changing your entire wardrobe seasonally – I don’t understand that as a concept. I think it’s good to instead build on what you have and to find pieces that reflect who you are, because ultimately, clothing is one of the first references when you meet somebody.”
Why did you choose Next?
“I’ve always wanted to work with them, funnily enough, and when I left Twenty8Twelve with Sienna and went to Debenhams, I was thrilled that I could work at the high street level and still produce garments that were a similar feeling to what we were doing at Twenty8Twelve, but with a much more accessible price point.
“Next feels like the pinnacle of that because they are nailing high street fashion as far as their production capabilities are concerned. The quality on some of those fabrics is extraordinary.
“Also, they’re making a lot of headway in how to make the brand more sustainable from an environmental point of view, which is important to me.
“We’ve made sure that, where possible, each piece is made from the recycled option, and I know as a business their target by 2025 is to be fully responsible.”
What was the design process and which elements were most important to you?
“I pulled together all my moodboards with my designer, Charlotte, who I work with on everything, and we batted around ideas.
“Originally, we were just going to be doing womenswear and sleep and then it grew and grew as different departments kept seeing our ideas and wanting in. It became this amazing big thing, which I’m so happy about as, for me, it’s about the total look. It’s not just about one element.
“We did a lot of Zooming – which I’m so over – and it’s incredible what you can do with Royal Mail! With the lockdown, we had to make it work that way.
“I was very clear about what I wanted in the collection. Then, when we could meet for work, we did socially distanced fittings, as you have to see the clothes, but a lot of it was me in my bedroom going: ‘Ooh, this is a bit… This could do with this…’ and fiddling around.”
Where did you shoot the campaign?
“In Los Angeles, which was a miracle as we weren’t supposed to be travelling, but I’m a dual citizen and I have an American passport so I could travel.
“It was incredible to not be in England! I was only there for three days – it was literally a flash in the pan. Just having that golden light in my eyes and different place vibes was so exciting! I was dancing around in Shutters [Shutters on the Beach hotel] and being in another place was such a joy. I felt so grateful, and I appreciated every tiny little thing – even down to the hotel soaps. The gift from lockdown is we’re not going to take anything for granted.”
Which is your favourite piece?
“The blue spot sundress because the fabric is so soft and I love that hand-painted print. It’s got a low back with lovely wide straps so it feels chic. You could wear it over a bikini or anywhere. I need those pieces in the summer where I can go from work to dinner or wherever you need to go.”
You have a sportswear edit, too…
“That’s coming in September. I’m a recent convert to exercise – I say recent; I started exercising when I was about 36 and I’m now 42 and before then, did no exercise at all.
“I didn’t understand activewear or performance gear and what it was for, but now I get it. You need those clothes to move with you. You don’t want to be thinking about your pants falling down or your boobs flying out when you’re on a run.
“I find the prices on a lot of sportswear outrageous – I’m not going to pay £150 for a pair of printed leggings! – so we’ve tried to bring that elevated aesthetic to the high street.”
“Running, strength resistance training and I’ve always done yoga – those are my three favourites. And wild cold-water swimming. I discovered that last May and I swim every week in fresh cold water all year round. I live near Woodchester [Park] lakes, in Stroud, so I go there or to my friend’s pond. It’s euphoric – you honestly feel completely elated afterwards. The colder the water, the more the endorphins. I’m kind of annoyed now the water is warming up.”
How do you juggle being a mum of three with your working life?
“I don’t know! It is a lot at the moment. I’ve got three jobs and three kids and I don’t live in London. But, you know, I’ve always worked hard and I love working hard and I love what I do, so I somehow make it work.
“The kids are a bit older now, so that also makes it easier and I feel settled in my life, so everything feels a lot more manageable.”
Savannah Miller x Next launches on 29 July at next.co.uk and selected stores.
‘Build on what you have and find pieces that reflect who you are, because clothing is one of the first references when you meet somebody’