Designer Misha Nonoo had the most wonderful inspiration for her Nooo Resort 2013 Collection. Her Inspiration Statement reads as follows:

“Edwina, Countess Mountbatten of Burma,

a sybarite of regal proportions and last Vicereine of India.”

The inspiration is very apropos, given Ms. Nonoo’s background; like Edwina, she was raised in London. The designer was born in Bahrain and you can see the exoticism that makes these easy to wear clothes something special.

I was hooked at the prospect of having a new fashion muse to research and obsess over, and a resort collection I loved.

What a muse Edwina is! After a morning of research, I learned that she was one of the six best-dressed women in the world and had an incredible jewelry collection that reflected the time she spent living and traveling between distinctly different cultures.

The stunning platinum set ruby, sapphire, diamond and emerald, bandeau made by Cartier Edwina bought in London in 1928, was  made of stones allegedly taken from what was originally Indian jewelry. It would look wonderful with Look #11 from the Noonoo Resort collection, a sapphire blue French lace blouse and pencil skirt. You’d wear the bandeau, just as Edwina did, very casually, wrapped twice around your wrist as a bracelet.

The fabrics of note at Nonoo were French lace, four ply silk and chiffon mixed in with some classic botanical and lattice prints. Details such as beading on jet collars and cuffs gave just the right touch of Eastern opulence to the quirky tailored separates and elegant skirt suits and dresses.

Edwina, were she alive now, would surely approve of look #5, a persimmon double face crepe skirt suit with transparent pailette detail over a silk georgette blouse for her daytime duties as Viscountess.

Botanical print crepe de chine blouse paired with cropped tailored silk shantung trouser, Look #2, would be perfect for lounging in a hammock at the end of the day while sipping an ice tea while contemplating her busy day.

- Vivian Kelly