The first time I spotted (and felt) a Noël Caleb’s number in Haji Lane, I could tell right away that this was no amateur-designer stuff which are very common around.
The quality of fabric, impeccable tailoring and sophisticated style (with plenty of attitude) stood out that you might as well have put it in a designer department store and it wouldn’t have looked out of place.
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| Love this combo! edgy, colourful but not over-the-top |
I am not a colour-shy person but I have to say that wearing colour is tricky sometimes, especially when you’re looking for a more mature (but not boring) look, not your average tweeny summer dresses. Many women including myself who are over 20-something find that sometimes the only alternative is to stick to the safe black and white or a more muted palette. The designers at Noël Caleb seem to understand this and offer an alternative; a variety of mix-and-match pieces which are colourful and fun but not over-the-top and most importantly trendy, stylish and wearable all at the same time.
What I love about Noël Caleb is the versatility of their pieces as well. There are a lot of separates which can be worn and layered in so many ways and given a twist to form an even more individual look. I haven’t seen any bland or boring piece and I find this quite impressive since even the most talented designers resort to ‘basic’ pieces sometimes which don’t really add any value to the collection.
The mixture of bright (but not too loud) colours, edgy cuts and interesting fabric has already won me over and I had to learn more about the people behind this new label. And so I did, and here I share with you some information about what I expect to become one of the hottest home-grown names in fashion very soon!
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| This Natalie skirt looks cute and fun! |
Q: What is Noël Caleb?
Noël Caleb is the meaning of Christmas and Devotion combined. It is an independent label from Singapore sewn with every fashion designer’s heart and love. We seek to redress the fabric of the ladies’ femininity and we have created 7 compatible looks for every day of the week, helping every girl look effortlessly stylish from Monday to Sunday. From dress-and-jacket ensembles to smart casual trousers and tunics, every day is a date to remember.
Q: When did it start and why?
Noël Caleb started in February 2011, as it wanted to re-establish the look of how a lady should look – feminine, graceful and gentle on the outside, but strong in the inside. Not rebellious, rude or gothic-looking as this is a “goodie-goodie” brand. Also, there are far too many labels out there which are mostly in black or white. Noël Caleb inculcates colour wearing in the every-day girl. Thus, every piece of the label is wearable, able to mix and match easily, while making the girl looks fashionable and forward in a colourful manner.
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| This Kryptonite skirt can be teamed with so many things! I prefer the purple version though (no pic) |
Q: The inspiration behind it?
The inspiration behind it is a whole team effort – the fashion designer, creative/ art director, photographer and the marketer. But we prefer not to be known, as the recognition comes from the fact that the label is growing in its acceptance/ awareness even though we are only less than a year old.
Q: Who do you design for?
We design primarily for the working women aged 24 to 36 years old. These ladies have purchasing power, and are fashion-conscious. They are well-travelled, well-read and they look stylish daily be it in casual or formal wear.
Q: Price range:
Our prices range from S$80 for a top, from S$120 for a pair of bottoms and about S$200 for a dress.
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| Alexandrite dress in a more muted brown |
Q: Tell us more about your collections and favourite/signature pieces from each:
Honey and Rock collection:
In the Honey in a Rock collection, multi-faceted geometric gemstones are constructed into shapes and shades of fabric, in all the precious stone tones of a girl's best friends. The beauty of this collection is the paneling and details from inside and outside that depicts the multi facet / lines of the gemstones. This collection has yet to be launched online, but we have some stockists in Singapore carrying some of the pieces. The actual launch of this collection will be the end of this year.
Some of our favourite pieces are:
Kryptonite skirt a soft jersey skirt given a structural edge with geometric overlays.
Alexandrite dress takes centerpiece, with smart paneling detail to mirror the many facets of a gem.
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| Love love love this Alexandrova skirt!!!! |
“Ballerina Diaries”, Noel Caleb’s debut collection:
Inspired by the archetypal Parisian ballerina, Noël Caleb’s debut collection “Ballerina Diaries” draws from her grace, strength, poise and femininity. It is a collage of float and flounce – from gentle layers, chiffon and drapes to structural strength with twists and binds. The polka dot is chosen as a cheery print that is timeless yet trendy, effortlessly young and vibrant. This collection is available online at www.noelcaleb.com.Some of our favourite pieces are:
Alexandrova: a layered twist draped skirt with a cheeky centre-part and quirky side zip.
Nathalie: a circle skirt that flares open when twirled and falls to body when static.
Paloma: an edgy cotton jersey shrug available with or without sleeves.
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| Maybe this colour is more me? (I can't help it!) |
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| This cute and versatile Paloma shrug is perfect for a touch of layering in humid Singapore |
Q: Where to find it?
Very much an online store, one can find our pieces at www.noelcaleb.com. We are also currently stocked at the following stores: Dulcetfig @ Haji Lane, Egg3 @ Mandarin Gallery, A-Mod @ TripleOne Somerset, Circa @ Parco Millenia Walk and Foot Fetish @ Palais Reinassance.
Q: Any news or collection coming up and when?
We are currently working on our 3rd and 4th collection, which will be launched in a few months’ time. As the brand’s vision is to connect with more people worldwide who love fashion, we intend to kick-start an incubation program whereby fashion designers and marketers from all over the world could benefit from Noël Caleb and from here, we would like to promote talented fashion people globally.
Noël Caleb welcomes writers, artists, curators, designers, marketers and anyone creative who wish to enter into the fashion world to be our network of associates by sending in their resume to love@noelcaleb.com. http://www.noelcaleb.com/index.html