NÖELZIÑIA CONVEYS ROMANCE AND GLAMOUR, AT VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK.

NÖELZIÑIA

a brand to WATCH

Darlings, I'm at the keyboard again with another post from Vancouver Fashion Week and I'm excited to be writing a post on the brand, Nöelziñia . The other day,I wrote about 2 experimental young women who are stretching, and growing, and showing some amazing stuff. Since, I really want to showcase women designers, I have another young women who stands out for entirely different reasons.

When I decided to write a blog about women's fashion, I knew it came from a life time of admiring women, and women's fashion. However I never knew what a Feminist I would become. Since women's fashion for the greater part of the 20th century was designed by men, women often have a harder time getting established . Therefore, I have chosen women at give an extra push too. One such woman is Noel Baptista, who impressed me at Vancouver Fashion Week .

Nöelziñia , the theme is romantic glamour.

A constant theme that I write about is glamour, I have a past post entitled "Fashion ; Does Glamour Still Exist In Fashion". Since, you can read this post for yourself I need not say more, except that glamour, in all it's forms, is alive and well.

While, sitting with a large coffee on a Vancouver street I contemplated what I saw at Vancouver Fashion Week, and this post came to me. In fact, I saw glamour at fashion week, and several different collections stood out. Furthermore, one collection that presented a glamour, and a beauty that was unique, is Nöelziñia.

NÖELZIÑIA

A DISTINCTIVE COLLECTION

For Noel Baptista, fashion is an expression of her journey through life. On her about page (on her website) we learn Noel is from Kingsville Ontario , the daughter of a captain. who was of Portuguese descent, and an artist/business partner mother. Their business is Windblown & Weathered, a small art, clothing & décor shoppe in her hometown. Baptista says the following on her about page.

" Inspired by the culture of her long-deceased father, a captain who was of Portuguese descent, she has been on a journey to reconnect, explore and understand the missing parts of her culture, and is an avid student of the world. As an evolving continuation of ‘The Spice Route’ collection, Noele has been compelled to further study exotic and faraway lands, and the ports of call along the Spice Route. From sailing with the trade winds of the China Seas to the Indonesian Archipelago, around India to the lands of the Middle East, to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, and across the Mediterranean to Europe, this is the route that forever changed the world"

Noel is the founder of “Nöelziñia” clothing brand. An avid drawer since childhood , fashion became her mode to express her artistic nature. Upon viewing her collection, it is evident she brings artistic elements to her designs , hand dyed fabrics, painted textiles and a masterful use of colour . Noel is a graduate of the Fashion Design Technician Program at St. Clair College .

“Fleurs pressées” Fall/Winter 19/20, or “Pressed Flowers”

Since, I am contemplating glamour and beauty, I asked Noel what was her perception of glamour? "To me being glamorous is a lot more than just looking the part- you have to feel it. It’s the way you walk and how you hold yourself. It’s about wearing what speaks to you, for you."

"Pressed Flowers" Baptista's Fall/Winter collection is indeed glamorous and beautiful. Noel in her answer to my question, personalizes glamour as a feeling . Feelings are a strong theme in her collection that is inspired by memories. Some of these memories, these treasured pressed flowers, are faded while others seem stronger and more vivid. Memories that are saved for winter seasons craving flora , and casting out the cold .

NÖELZIÑIA

Those who follow me are aware of my mantra "use color combinations found in nature", (beaten into my head by own design professor.) We see full evidence of this in"Pressed Flowers". The dusty palette used by Baptista is reminiscent of those actual pressed flowers, that slip from pages of a favorite book. Subtle tones of yellow, blue, mauve-grey and blush are interrupted by pops of more vivid memories, brighter rusts and pinks. Noels use of these understated hues and layers of fabric creates a luminosity that gives the garments a glow. It is indeed rare in a young designer to see such attention details. Many of the garments have small beautifully crafted fabric flowers and deliberately placed gathers and ruffles.

The silhouettes are taken from the pages of fashion history, with long skirts gliding down the runway. One dress has a floor length blush colored skirt, with faded 3d flowers and hints of tulle at the hem, as well as a painterly bodice, in shades of yellow and other muted tones. Bell sleeves appear on several garments, fashioned in tulle giving a flowing romantic impression. We see trousers with large flare bottoms and ruffles, one in particular is an on trend patchwork denim, paired with a hand dyed rust jacket with gathered sleeves . Moreover the designers ingenuity allows her to produce apparel that appear effortless.

NÖELZIÑIA

DESIGNER BRINGS GLAMOUR TO VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK

Noel Baptista shows us her strengths of craftmanship, creating a romantic and glamourous collection . What I love most is that every piece comes from the same place, creating a cohesive collection. The garments all come from the same faded bouquet.When Noel said of glamour, "It’s the way you walk and how you hold yourself. It’s about wearing what speaks to you, for you".

This is most evident in two dresses/gowns that stole the runway. First is a pink velvet dress with blush floral sleeves and a gathered tiered skirt in various florals. The overdress is made of a raspberry-pink velvet with a border of rosettes. The model had a regal glamour as she confidently floated down the runway. The second was a gown of original thought and construction. Glamorous, romantic and exuding an underlying sexuality, This dress was a gathered, tiered, column, fit for a queen. Elegantly the model appeared to hover over the floor with poise and self assurance.

NÖELZIÑIA

In conclusion , I am always happy to see creativity in action. Moreover, my love of both fashion and theatre are brought together in a fashion show. In fact a fashion show is a unique experience, part spectacle, part art exhibit, part sales venue, and part craftsmanship to name just a few elements. A collaboration of artists , who's art and influence effects the whole.

For example, upon visiting Noel Baptista's website I came across a lovely portrait by a family friend. Noel told me the following."Vera Graham is a Kingsville ON based artist who is a good friend of my mother. She has shown her work at our gallery and shop, Windblown & Weathered, many times. She has been a big creative influence in my life as I have grown up, and we own four or five of her originals which hang in our home."

The portrait is done in a post impressionism style. For me, to see this work of art, gives a whole new insight into Noel's fashion, I can see the influence of the artists work in her clothes. The painterly style of the yellow bodice on a dress or the dyes giving a great depth of color in a jacket. However a designer may have many influences, in this case those influences include that beautiful portrait of the artist herself. I am so pleased to see such a great collection from this young designer.

It is important to realize that no art exists in a vacuum. Therefore my point is that all artists have an influence on each other. Seeing and experiencing Vancouver Fashion Week , I am delighted to see the vast array of creativity presented. Three cheers to Jamal Abdourahman and the dedicated staff and followers of Vancouver Fashion Week who enable the cooperative exchange of ideas. Where else can you see modest fashion along side Drag Queens .

I encourage all my followers national and international to reach out to Nöelziñia , to place orders or make enquiries, Below find their contact information.

Website: https://noelzinia.wixsite.com/noelzinia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noelzinia.design/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Noelzinia