Racked's Nicole Miller Giveaway Winners Tell Us Their Stories

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Last week, Racked National had three Nicole Miller necklaces to give away to readers who shared with us their fondest memories of the iconic designer. Congratulations to our three winners: Ruth, Jane, and Shellie!

Ruth wins this glass large stone necklace from Friday's contest: "Nicole Miller is the only designer my mother will wear. My mom—God bless her—raised four girls and works full time. She was the ultimate working mom. But we never suffered. She always makes time for us and like all good mothers, sacrifices so that we can have more than what we need—and raising 4 girls isn't cheap.

One time my father bought her a really nice Gucci purse for her birthday but she hardly uses it. It spends more time in the closet than out. Then one year, my sisters and I got her Nicole Miller perfume that came with an umbrella with a funky print. She loved the umbrella. I think the print cheered her up. So every year we scour TJ Maxx and Marshalls for funky Nicole Miller prints for my mom.

This past December my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The smallest kind, thank God. She just finished radiation therapy last Tuesday. If I win, I'd like to give the necklace to her because I know she'll wear it."

Jane wins this glass large stone necklace from Wednesday's contest: "When I was young, just out of college, I worked at Knoll International on Madison and 60th Street in NYC. Being a lowly assistant I earned very little money, but due to the companies state-of-the-art furniture design, I was required to dress up for work and events at our showroom. Fortunately, I grew up in the same small town in Massachusetts as Nicole Miller, and her mother would sell Nicole's prototypes from her living room in Massachusetts.

This was in the early 1980's before Nicole hit the big time. I lucked out and was able to wear one of a kind, "state-of-the-art" fashions. It was new, fresh and exciting and I was honored to sport Nicole Miller originals to work and to all sorts of openings and events in Manhattan. Little did I know at the time how avant garde I really was!

I still have a few pieces. Unfortunately a box of my best garments was damaged in storage and I lost most of my wonderful dresses.

Now I am almost 50 years old and look back at those days with delight and still have a lilt in my heart when I think about how amazing I looked... thanks to Nicole! (and her mom)"

Shellie wins this glass large stone necklace from Monday's contest: "My beautiful baby girl Liz met them man of her dreams at a rodeo in her home state of Idaho. He was a Texas calf roper. Liz was 18 that year, just moved away from home in the beautiful mountains of Idaho, to attend The College of Southern Idaho. It was at a PRCA Rodeo that she met JW. Of course age, time and distance kept the two apart—for almost 2 years. They did converse from time to time, but when Huricane Katrina hit they lost touch—JW had been injured during the clean-up, one thing led to another, and they didn't speak for nearly a year.

Out of the blue one day, JW called Liz and it was as if time had stood still. They picked up right where they had left off. A week later he sent her a plane ticket, and she headed off to Houston. I received a text from her about an hour after she landed—"Oh Mom, he is AMAZING," it said.

Liz was living in NYC at the the time. She spent a week with him in Texas and then flew back to Manhattan. Two months later they both flew to Idaho so that JW could ask her Dad for her hand in marriage.

Then, on the anniversary of the day they met, they eloped. Not the storybook wedding I had always pictured for my baby girl, but a quiet ceremony at a Chistian Cowboy Church in Texas. When Liz called that morning to ask for our blessing, she also asked, "Can I sill have my Nicole Miller dress and a ceremony with you and Dad in New Zealand?"

What can I say? New Zealand is beautiful in February and Liz looked amazing in her Nicole Miller dress! It was the perfect day, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.
They have now been married a year and a half and are doing great.

JW is studying for his CPA, Liz is modeling part time in Dallas and working on the family ranch. She looks equally at home on the red carpet or in the roping arena. Pretty good for my little Idaho cowgirl. I only wish they were not so far away."

· Nicole Miller Jewelry [Official Site]
· Nicole Miller on Facebook [Facebook]
· Follow @nicolemillernyc [Twitter]