It’s midmorning behind the scenes before Noon by Noor’s autumn/winter 2015 show in New York on Saturday, February 14.
Amid flashbulbs, models changing and assistants frantically packing up 39 looks in less than five minutes, the sheikhas Haya and Noor Al Khalifa are surrounded.
Yet the Bahraini designers – and cousins – behind the label look surprisingly comfortable being around this swarm of people. With just six runway shows under their belt, the Al Khalifas are at ease in the middle of madness – and ready to talk about colour.
“We started with a muted colour palette – the greys and silvers, then it all came from there,” says Haya. The embellishments were an extension of the theme, with the greatest emphasis placed on the silhouettes.
“We wanted to focus on getting the shapes right and just working on a more simple look,” she says.
The new collection was a continuation of pre-fall 2015, pieces of which were worn by celebrities at the show’s front row. The pregnant model Coco Rocha wore a black jacket over a black-and-white printed blouse and trousers, and embellished collar.
DJ Leigh Lazark of The Misshapes paired a Noon by Noor pre-fall black-and-white blazer with a clean, all-black ensemble underneath.
The latest additions to the label’s collection were so aesthetically minimalist, they could have been verging on sci-fi.
“Not really,” says Haya with a smile. “I think it’s just the silver and greys that made it seem that way. On the runway you see it shine more than in everyday life and so [it] gave that impression.”
The high-shine fabrics were artfully moulded into easy dresses, pencil skirts and oversized coats. Bomber jackets added dimension and a 1980s influence to the dreamy, feminine silhouettes.
The laser-cut glossy pieces were a notable shift for the duo; they kept the shapes simple to highlight the raw material.
The audience let out an audible gasp at one look: a billowing black full-length dress studded with crystal embellishments. The abaya-reminiscent garment was inspired by “a sweater – something really casual like a knit, but designed as evening wear”, says Haya.
Emphasising the clothes even more was the models’ clean hair and make-up – a sweep of silver on the eyes, no mascara or lipstick, and centre-parted hair.
During the preparations, Haya’s family drags her away for a family portrait; the large group squeezes in for a photo that capture their love and support for the duo.
“Actually, this time a lot of them came to the show,” says Haya. “They’re not that involved in the brand but they always attend the shows.”
The team, who created their label back in 2008, seem to have been doing runway shows all their lives.
“I think we’ve mastered it by now,” says Haya.
artslife@thenational.ae
