NYFW 2020 [Day 5]: Fe Noel + Dirty Pineapple
To close out a long, eventful fashion week, Fe Noel made its NYFW debut as well as Dirty Pineapple. I rushed to the shows after work on Wednesday, although I had originally planned to end my NYFW on Tuesday, I couldn’t pass up these unique collections! I may have looked like a mess, but the shows were well worth the experience.
Dirty Pineapple
NARCISSIST RHAPSODY
Dirty Pineapple is a Shanghai based clothing band that “combines high street fashion and creative matching”. A very artistic approach to fashion. their concept used the ideas of innovation and equality; “A creator of inspiring equality through content, design, and message”. The colors stood out the most, my two favorites being the bright blue and yellow brush stroke patterns.
Dirty Pineapple Fall-Winter 2020
“A blur of contrast for the search of true beauty. A quest for a gender equal world in a unequal driven society”
Dirty Pineapple Fall-Winter 2020
The color palette is what caught my eye — the first look at this season’s show was a bright blue “brush-stroked” jumpsuit (that I immediately wanted)! Dirty Pineapple incorporated layering in almost every piece, with large, vibrant blazers over simple turtlenecks and bright pants. The Dr. Martens shoes were an edgy addition to complete the looks. The looks were definitely over the top, but in an elegant way. Dirty Pineapple aims to take inspiration from the past, present and future to create its narrative in hope of a gender neutral world. Definitely came through the show’s portrayal of the artistic approach to gender neutral high street fashion.
I loved the variety of colors: from bright blues and yellows to neutrals and earth tones — the Fall colors were inspired by the golden hour of sunlight.
Fe Noel
A Daughter Of The Soil: Grenada to New York
A beautiful debut and way to end NYFW, Fe Noel’s collection was sexy and full of color! Felisha Noel, Grenadian-Brooklyn based designer shows a family, cultural connection embedded in her colors and aesthetics. everyone left the show, ready to jet off to Grenada, as it was a clear celebration of her Caribbean roots. The final piece was a gorgeous lime dress, modeled by the beautiful Trinidadian model, Shan (@fershandez), which left up speechless! It was my first time getting to know the brand and wow(!!) What an honor to have been invited.
Fe Noel Fall-Winter 2020
“Eat well, travel often, and dress to inspire!... In other words make life beautiful.”
Fe Noel Fall-Winter 2020
Brooklyn-based, Grenada-born designer Felisha Noel debuted her beautiful collection this season, and what a wonderful way to end NYFW as we were transported to Grenada. “Daughter of the Soil” was the description left on our seats, as I immediately felt the cultural connection (I’ve mentioned before how much I love the artistic concept descriptions). Fe Noel pays homage to the West Indian/African experience and empowerment through the colorful story of her designs. Heavily influenced by her Caribbean heritage, Felisha writes on her website that she holds her “mother and grandmother in high regard, crediting them for showing what drive, determination, and humble hearts”. So it’s no surprise why her designs are already worn by fellow inspiring women like Beyoncé and Michelle Obama.
This show began like no other I’ve experienced — with a short film introducing us to the Grenadian traditions. It set the tone for the show, as a tribute to authenticity, proud heritage, and cultural celebration. The excitement among the seat of guests did not go unnoticed, as we felt the message in our souls for the struggle we endure on the path towards becoming our true-selves.
On the collection itself — it was vibrant art and cultural expression. The romantic silk dresses and 2-piece sets were feminine and dreamy. The robe pieces mixed with printed patterns and vibrant colors felt like the true Caribbean homage. The collection expressed how proud Noel is of her ancestry, especially through the hairstyles as they were designed as beautiful as the clothes. I loved the models embracing their natural short styles, while others styled in long cornrows. They were the perfect touch, giving “vacationing on the beaches of Grenada” vibes — which I’m ready for!
