Fashion designer Richard Nicoll turns his hand at film directing as he not only styles the spring 2015 campaign for Jack Wills but also shoots the film…

When the London-based designer Richard Nicoll, who counts Keira Knightley, Diane Kruger and Julianne Moore as fans, became the creative director for Jack Wills many thought it was an odd coupling. However, the spring 2015 campaign proves it has been a successful fashion marriage.

Richard Nicoll for Jack Willis

Nicoll, who first started showing at London fashion Week in February 2006, is working with the ‘fabulously British’ brand on a part-time basis, enabling him to continue with his eponymous line. For his debut with Jack Wills, Nicoll had to make a statement and that he does with the mods-esque collection which has a chic 1960s feel that is reflected in the campaign video that plays on the British youth subculture. 

Under Nicoll’s precision and polish, Jack Wills’s usual preppy range has been broad­ened and a cohesive collection has emerged, with the introduction of more versatile and timeless options for menswear and womenswear.

Richard Nicoll for Jack Willis

For the spring womenswear collection, Nicoll studied British Youth sub cultural periods from the 1960s Youth Quake, through to 1990s Brit pop. He said: “I wanted to bring the colour and energy from both periods together and inject the Jack Wills hero products such as the gilet, the rugby tops, the cable crews and equestrian tailoring, with a sense of youthful fun and playfulness.”

The result is an optimis­tic and uniquely British collection, packed full of energy and graphic colour pops.

Richard Nicoll for Jack Willis

“Jack Wills is not just about creating wardrobing for young adults. It’s for anybody with a youthful spirit,” added Nicoll.  “The clothing can be worn by a wide variety of ages. Mixed together, they create an irrever­ent image of British youth culture and a celebration of the individual in the gang.”

Richard Nicoll for Jack Willis

The spring 2015 collection by Richard Nicoll for JackWillis is available in stores now.