The 18-year-old, who lives in the East End of the city, is being recognised at a glittering awards ceremony this Sunday.
She will receive the Community Award at Action for Children Scotland's 13th annual Woman of Influence event, having beaten the odds for looked-after children by going on to higher education.
The £30-a-week bursary that she currently receives to study child health and social care at John Wheatley College in Easterhouse only goes so far – so the Buchanan Galleries stepped in to provide Nicole with an outfit to wear to the lunch at the Grand Central hotel.
Staff at the mall were only too happy to provide style advice to Nicole.
Breanne Loucks, 25, supervisor at Oasis, said: "Green and red are her favourite colours, and she looks incredible in an orangey-red maxi dress – that really brings out the tones in her skin."
Nicole also browsed the rails of Quiz, Joy, Moda In Pelle and Next before deciding on her outfit: a coral Reiss dress and rose-coloured Ted Baker cardigan, both from John Lewis, and a pair of towering gladiator sandals from River Island.
Nicole said: "This is so exciting. I've loved trying on all these different things.
"I'm still nervous about Sunday, but I'm more excited because I have something to wear."
Nicole will receive a Paul Hodgkiss-designed award in front of 350 supporters of the Glasgow-based children's charity.
The former pupil of St Andrew's Secondary in Carntyne was taken into care at the age of 13, spending almost a year with a foster family.
At 15, she left school with no qualifications and for 18 months had no prospect of a job.
Yet, through the help of Action for Children Scotland's support project Transitions, she is hoping to study nursing or psychology on completion of her one-year NC course.
The awards ceremony is expected to raise over £80,000 for the charity.
The Transitions service supports young people who have been looked after by social work services to overcome barriers to employment or training.
It is funded by Glasgow City Council Education Services, Inspiring Scotland and European Structural Funds.
lAll clothes available from Buchanan Galleries, 0141 333 9898, www.buchanangalleries.co.uk
