DIY meets Eighties femininity in Nicky Zimmermann’s romantic spring 2017.Gone are the days of DIY for Nicky Zimmermann — as her brand has become a cult favorite with vintage- and beach-loving girls worldwide — and yet that didn’t stop her from taking her spring collection on a reminiscent journey back to Stranded, her and her friends’ club of choice in Sydney, Australia in the Eighties. “It’s kind of my take on the Eighties, because where I grew up was kind of isolated to the subcultures that were happening — it was a bit more parody,” she explained. In her show notes, she offered details: “We made everything ourselves; it was more about expressing yourself. We ripped up tutus, we stole dad’s shirts, found old pieces of lace. We tied, we tattered, tangled and frayed.”

What’s regularly remarkable about Zimmermann is the brand’s ability to produce high-quality, intricate workmanship while retailing at a sub-designer price point. One piece, a white lace and purply floral menagerie of wraps and tiers (essentially a souped-up prairie dress), was especially striking in terms of its construction. It also featured an off-the-shoulder element, which is proving to be quite trendy in the early stages of NYFW.