RED HOT SUMMER

IT’S THE BIGGEST AND BEST SUMMER YET FOR DOWN UNDER CLOTHING AND SWIMWEAR BRAND ZIMMERMANN. BY ADRIENNE GAFFNEY

It’s the biggest and best summer yet for Down Under clothing and swimwear brand Zimmermann.

Zimmermann, the feminine Australian clothing and swimwear line, has a very exciting summer planned. Nicky Zimmermann, who oversees design while her sister Simone runs the business side, is in the United States for the season, celebrating several events and milestones for the 26-year-old Sydneybased company.

This summer Zimmermann will welcome three new stores, in New York City’s Meatpacking District, Miami’s Bal Harbour, and on Bruton Street in London, expanding the brand’s repertoire to 24 shops and launching a European presence for the first time. “We found our girl: She goes to the Hamptons, she travels to Miami, she goes to London. Luckily, that’s what we want to do as well,” says Nicky. “It’s great having these [stores] so we can travel to these amazing places but also be there for work. It’s really exciting.”

Each location was wellscouted and long-desired: The company had been looking for the right spot in Mayfair for its first London store, and was equally eager to have a location in Miami—a longtime favorite travel destination for Nicky. A new Manhattan shop will

become the second in the city. “It’s another property we’ve had our eye on for quite a while,” she explains. “I love that area of New York. It’s a little bit of a tourist spot, but it’s beautiful.”

Nicky’s time Stateside will also give Zimmermann the chance to host its first resort show, which will take place in New York, showcasing the Spring/ Summer collection that was inspired by a nightclub she frequented as a teen.

“I would drive into the city, and it was a place where you could express yourself and the music was quite experimental. The era was the late ’80s, [and we were] coming from an area where you were less encouraged to express yourself,” she recalls. “My girlfriends and I would make our outfits.” The resulting collection has a slight pirate vibe thanks to frilled shirts and muted colors, along with stripes mixed with florals and corset tops. To Nicky, the stand-out piece is a peach lace dress with a handkerchief hem and a corset top. “It’s about selecting all these beautiful little pieces of things and putting them together,” she says. 27 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 631-604-6291; zimmermannwear.com

“WE FOUND OUR GIRL: SHE GOES TO THE HAMPTONS, SHE GOES TO MIAMI, SHE TRAVELS TO LONDON.” — nicky zimmermann