Noon By Noor Makes A Spectacular New York Fashion Week Debut With Its Spring 2013 Collection
Yesterday, the design duo behind the nascent Noon by Noor label, Shaikha Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa, made their official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week debut — and, in so doing, amassed a group of fashion devotees that would spread Noon by Noor’s own brand of couture gospel and trumpet the Spring 2013 show as an operatic masterpiece. Admittedly, I went into the show knowing very little about the brand beyond the bullet points : the designers are cousins, one was born in Bahrain and the other in London, and both studied fashion design in Washington, D.C. Clearly, that was hardly enough for me to form a true understanding of what I could expect to see coming down the runway. To say that it was an unexpected surprise would be an understatement — in fact, I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that the Noon by Noor Spring 2013 collection was the most exciting I’ve seen thus far (and I’m speaking only, of course, of the shows that I’ve been lucky enough to attend).
Whereas monochromatic, minimalist looks prevailed during my fashion travels on Day 1 of New York Fashion Week, Noon by Noor added an unprecedented dose of excitement on Day 2 with a colorful palette that incorporated creamy apricot, pumpkin and orange sherbet shades, coral and honeysuckle pinks, chartreuse and golden olive greens, and hints of sunflower yellow and deep aquamarine. These sunny, perky colors were incorporated into garments ranging from cropped motorcycle jackets with gauzy fabrics and buckle details to voluminous evening gowns with sky-high slits and voluminous skirts that moved and billowed exquisitely. Even daytime looks channeled high-octane glamour — from copper shorts with a scale-like texture and glossy sheen paired with a golden olive silk blouse that looked so fluid it practically seemed to melt on the model’s body to a long-sleeved jumpsuits in a watercolor-esque, ink-y floral print, and a tailored lobster bisque-colored pant suit with roomy trousers featuring a center pleat and a lightweight jacket with strong shoulders featuring lime green beaded appliqués. Near-neon beaded accents on jackets, dresses, and skirts added an unexpected sense of whimsy, upping the glamour factor while also giving pieces a youthful approachability.
Evening looks were particularly stunning — especially the finale look, a floor-length, peach-colored gown featuring a draped bodice; a single long sleeve in a sheer chiffon that seemed to dance over the model’s arm juxtaposed against a sleeveless arm with a rosette accent at the shoulder; and, of course, layers and layers of silk chiffon and boasting an up-to-the-thigh slit that made the fabric disperse around the model’s feet, the movement reminiscent of the splash a waterfall makes when cascading into a lagoon.
Check out some of the highlights above!
