MNfashion Week in review: Joynoelle Spring 2011 Collection 9/23

Text by Jahna Peloquin
Photos by Tara Sloane

The Wild West. Seventies bohemia. Studio 54. For their Spring 2011 collections, fashion designers have taken inspiration from an around-the-world variety of places. But for her spring line for Joynoelle, longtime local designer Joy Teiken took inspiration from an unusual source: the whimsical tales of Dr. Seuss. With such a childlike theme, seeing how this would translate into the wardrobe of Teiken's chic clientele posed an intriguing concept.


Thursday night at the rooftop penthouse of the International Market Square, Teiken debuted her Spring 2011 bridal and ready-to-wear collections in two sold-out, salon-style showings. Amidst the clean surroundings of the loft were Seussian props and signage, setting the stage for a character-driven show (separated into segments with names like "A Scrambled Egg Supper" and "Put Me in the Zoo"). The designer's signature style took an appropriately humorous, yet no less sophisticated turn, with the addition of top hats onto the heads of many a model.


Elsewhere, the inspiration was less overt - the poof-hemmed silhouette of a youthful wedding dress (said to be inspired by Cindy Lou Who), the "Cat in the Hat" dress and coat with a fabric shading technique inspired by the drawings in that book.


And perhaps the first time, the designer incorporated her vintage-inspired aesthetic and smart fabrications into separates, in addition to her usual confectionary dresses. But while it was fun to see Teiken stepping out of her comfort zone onto edgier ground, some of the separates (such as the gray-and-pink charmeuse draped top and silver leather pants) looked out of place in such a whimsical collection.


Teiken's layered raw-edge silk construction was better suited to her extremely chic one-shouldered cocktail dress, tailored yet feminine.


Among her more classic Joynoelle pieces was a crochet-lace tea-length dress - charmingly sweet in fabrication while avoiding the saccharine thanks to a sleek silhouette.


Also inspired was her incorporation of burlap into high-end looks - a tailored jacket, a charming dress trimmed is raw-edged pink and navy silk (also featured in our fall MNfashion Week spread), an edgy mini skirt.

Though she clearly knows her customer and her style, Teiken showed she's not without a few tricks - and fresh inspiration - up her sleeve.

Click HERE for more photos by Tara Sloane.