Why You Should Shop Fe Noel
Most of you know by now that I love to shop fashion brands by Black designers. The silhouette, the cuts, the fabrics always have a very specific point of view that speak to me. Sometimes the brands are rooted in history and provoke a sense of pride. Sometimes the brands are invested in inspiration and vision. Sometimes the brands really cater to my lifestyle. Everything from tonal to monochrome, from pale blues to vibrants reds.
My journey to Black brands started early. First of course, as a kid of the 90s, was streetwear. Streetwear was always a part of my daily attire. It just fit my burgeoning hip hop girl lifestyle. Baggy t-shirts made sense. Thick soled shoes made sense. As I grew, so did my style. It expanded to include not just streetwear but clothes made from luxury fabrics like silk and rare cut leathers. And while European luxury brands were available to me, I noticed very early on that many Black brands were smaller, offering the same kind of luxury with a more intimate shopping experience. And so my love of Black brands grew.
I invested in my first Fe Noel piece about 5 or 6 years ago. I was headed to my college homecoming and after scanning Instagram, I decided to hop in the brand’s direct messages hoping to get a response. I went to a historically Black college, which means that wearing box name department store clothes were out of the question. I needed a standout piece. I needed something that was going to tell a story about how my fashion evolved from fast fashion, mall girl clothes to a New Yorker with a little money in the bank. And so, I headed over to the Fe Noel store in Brooklyn after they informed me that they could make the piece for me. It was an intimate experience.
From the very beginning, Felisha, the designer and brand’s namesake was a genuine, down to earth, incredibly kind human.
She opened the store to welcome me. She seated me. She measured me. She talked to me about what I liked. It was truly a personal experience. I knew from that moment that I would invest my money and my time into her vision. The skirt came out, days later, a work of art. She gave me her personal cell phone number and asked me to follow up if I had any issues. The skirt itself? Art. The work sense? Some of the best cut, best made statement pieces I have in my wardrobe.
And that is the kind of service you get when a brand’s story of a jetsetting Black women, who is “connected yet free” speaks to you. I hope you all feel that way, when you find your love for a brand.
Here are a few more of my favorite items from the brand
These pants are honestly some of the most comfortable pants I own. They’re also really flattering because they hug the waist and are super wide leg.
These pants are so understated. They remind you of the perfect summer night. They can be worn with a crop top, an oversized linen shirt, or a robe. So divine.
I’ve never met a more comfortable, chic, and timeless pair of pants. They literally go with every single thing. I break them out every September and wear them until I can’t anymore. They cinch you in at the waist and are a perfect pair of palazzo pants.
Think about the cost per wear of your average swimsuit? You probably wear it once or twice a year? This? You will wear it with everything.
The print has such a beautiful meaning to the Grenadian people. The small but mighty Caribbean nation that is home to the designer. She embellished her latest collection with nutmeg prints that include swimsuits, dresses and robes.