Review: Noon By Noor Spring 2013

"Ah, I love a good Kell Cutrone sighting." I thought as I settled into my seat at the Noon By Noor show, however, my thought was quickly interrupted by throngs of photographers dashing past me to grab a shot of Nicky Hilton and Olivia Palermo.  

I really enjoyed the collection, with its watermelon, green, beige, golds, metallic coppers, bright pink, orange, nudes, and green tones all living together in harmony. The color and texture combinations within the collection were exciting: super glamorous ball gowns had neon appliques, and a pink blazer had neon pink feathers adorning the shoulders. Despite these fresh pops of color, many of the looks remained very classic and sophisticated. My favorite pieces were their marvelous wide-leg pants that came an an array of prints and colors, a sleek neutral jumpsuit, and their many simple orange dresses with expert draping.

My favorite print was the blown-up florals that were seen on the first look and on a few shorts and jumpsuits- having such a large print made the idea of floral seem more art-y than cutesy.
The cuts in the collection were very feminine and flowy-but-fitted, rather than being baggy. Safari-style shirts, gowns, and even suits shared a relaxed, chill vibe. T-shirts and tank tops were styled with full-length skirts with high slits. The effect was very day-meets-night.

If you're wondering about the name, Noon by Noor comes from the Arabic letter for 'N', which is pronounced as 'noon', and Noor is the middle name of the line's Bahraini founder, Shaikha Noon Al Khalifa.

photos from zimbio.com

Bibhu Mohapatra Spring 2013 Review: Transformation

Being the huge fan of Bibhu Mohapatra that I am, I was practically giddy when I got an invite to the SS13 show.
For spring the designer was fascinated by the Luna Moth and the idea of evolution, rebirth and transformation. The clothes beautifully portrayed these concepts, and each piece looked as if it was fresh from a cocoon, ready to display it's beautiful colors and complex craftsmanship to the world. The models coming down the runway looked like they were from a super high-fashion sequel to Disney/Pixar's A Bug's Life movies (you have no idea how happy I am that I get to reference a Disney movie in a show review). The structure of the jackets and shoulders were greatly reminiscent of insect's hard exoskeleton. The collection also constantly featured a geometric print that resembled a cross between ornate snowflakes and butterfly wings.
Aside from all the buggy business, the collection also had some downright breathtaking ball gowns in various shades of pink and blush that were just dying to have a red carpet moment.  I really appreciated the use of so many different fabrics in each dress. It took the idea of 'color blocking' to whole new level. The best dress, in my opinion, was a bright green dress with just enough elements of soft and hard; the fabric seemed to move in every direction, and the layers of material were simply stunning. It was a showstopper, and it completely took my breath away.

Fabric mixing, gleaming appliques, sheer elements, vibrant bright blue and greens and icy powder blues and pinks were prominent in the collection. Two of my favorite looks were decorated with strips of sheer black and red fabric that was placed in a crisscross all over the dress. The effect was stunning and really delicate, almost too pretty to touch. 

WHIT Spring 2013 Collection Review + Backstage Shots

I was lucky enough to go 'backstage' at the WHIT presentation during NYFW. Much like the clothes, the vibe was really laid-back. There was no violent rushing around or crowded spaces, and the models were happy to pose for pics. If only every presentation was on island time like this one! 

I love this photo. There's something really natural about it. 

 

How epic are the hats by Yestadt Millinery?!

Take note ladies, this is THE makeup cheat sheet for ss13. I saw this look over and over again during fashion week. Brown eye shadow, soft, pink-ish lips and cheeks. It's really beautiful.

 
 

 






 
 

The bright clothes in neon and yellow hues were a perfect contrast to the grey NYC sky that was threatening to rain out the presentation. I was a really big fan of the banana leaf print seen throughout- I think there's something really quirky about it! Being the die-hard oxford fan that I am, I flipped when I saw the banana print on the shoes as well. It really re-invented traditional pieces.
 The clothes were easy, fun, and young. Nothing was too uptight or snobby. There were several dresses that you could throw on in an instant- et voila- you'd be chic and ready to go. I really appreciated that the cuts were kept simple so that you could appreciate the loud prints and colors. I really loved the flowy blouses and dresses that came in the pink print and the blue leaf print. They'd be perfect for a thinner girl, but it's not exactly the fit that curvy girls like myself can wear well, unfortunately. I'd end up looking like a really chic pink cloud. Thank goodness there were other more form-fitting pieces in the collection. 
Everything was also very on trend for ss13- sea foam, neon, button down's, color blocking, mesh,  stripes, all-white looks, sportiness, lace, it was all there! Literally every single major trend was accounted for. 
For me, a big collection highlight were the bags. The shapes were inventive, and the colors were really wonderful! Whitney told me that if was their very first season doing handbags, and I'm excited to see what adorable arm candy she creates in the future!

 The designer, Whitney Pozgay. 

Thank you so much for letting me attend! You can check out WHIT on the web here. 

Also, I'd love it if you checked out my latest post for hvmag.com! I reviewed Kaelen SS13 collection for their blog, The Couture Report. Check it out!