Nicoll Blue: The commemorative hue everyone will be wearing this autumn

The shade ‘embodies the elegance and sensitive spirit’ of a much-beloved designer

Friday 29 September 2017 12:26 BST

Serbian designer Roksanda draws on the hue for its Autumn/Winter 2017 line (AFP/Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In October last year, designer Richard Nicoll tragically passed away at the age of 39 from a heart attack. A loss that reverberated through the fashion industry, the designer was to be remembered for his subtle minimalism and mastery of tailoring.

But, seeking to celebrate his life and work even more close friends and family collaborated with Pantone to create an official shade in his name – Nicoll Blue.

The London designer who was living in Australia at the time of his passing will be remembered for his eponymous line through which he became synonymous with the colour blue adopting it in countless collections, as well as a legacy that included designs at Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Jack Wills and Topshop.

“We were so pleased to be able to work on the creation of Nicoll Blue, a unique new blue shade in memory of esteemed fashion designer Richard Nicoll,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

“Modest and humble, yet at the same time lively and playful Richard Nicoll’s Nicoll Blue embodies the elegance and sensitive spirit of this much beloved designer whose innate kindness, loving soul and good natured sense of humour held a special allure to all that entered into his orbit.”

But, Nicoll’s visual presence didn’t stop there with fellow designers choosing to honour him by including the colour in their autumn/winter collections.

Celine Autumn Winter 2017 (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Roksanda Illincic, one of Nicoll’s closest friends within the fashion world, opened her show with a look head-to-toe in the shade. Here, a high-necked long sleeve silky dress was crafted in powdery blue and paired with matching drawstring leather boots.

Elsewhere, Celine showcased a longline shirt dress worn over matching trousers that were sliced at the knee as well as a mannish overcoat cinched at the waist.

For Lemaire and Balenciaga, extra emphasis was placed on suiting with the former opting for a blue buttonless collared shirt and high-waist men’s trousers, while Balenciaga incorporated flashes peaking through oversized boxy overcoats in Prince of Wales Check and black leather.

A defining characteristic of his work, the shade is a striking way to visually remember and celebrate Nicoll, and it helps that it just so happens to look really, really good on almost every skin tone too.

This autumn, ditch your typically humdrum assemblages and inject your seasonal look with a hue that’s soft, romantic and ethereal. From wintry scarves to keep you warm to basic tees and silky evening dresses, it’s a shade that’s dominating the high street right now, and with good reason.