Hockessin native's clothes hit Paris Fashion Week runway

When Audra Noyes was a kid growing up in Hockessin, her mom, Susan, guessed early that she would be doing something with fashion.“From the early days when she was playing dress-up where she had to have everything just right and the Halloween costumes had to be perfect to being a teenager who went shopping and always had the perfect vision of what she wanted, I knew she had an eye for this,” Susan said.Still, Susan never guessed that eye for colors and shapes would thrust her daughter onto the international scene’s biggest stages. Yet last week, she saw her daughter’s designs draped on the shoulders of supermodels during Paris Fashion Week, one of the most prominent fashion events in the world.

Noyes’ line, called “AUDRA,” debuted at the end of September at the Espace Commines, a venue that has featured legends such as Alexander McQueen. The line included 37 garments, four of which earned the coveted “Haute Couture” designation.The designer said running a show at that level can be stressful, chaotic and exhausting, but all of that pales in comparison with the feeling she got seeing her designs on stage.“It was a beautiful moment for me as I was backstage and sending [the models] out,” Noyes said.Brilliant chiffon One-Shoulder beaded evening dresses “People finally got to see what I’ve been seeing in my head for months.Graceful A-line Beaded One Shoulder Red Prom Dress It was very personal and touching.”

Noyes’ describes her style as “Haute Bohemia,” saying it blends Parisian expectations of luxury and detail with a sense of freedom and playfulness. For AUDRA,Satin V-neck Beaded A-line Sweep Train Evening Dress she didn’t look for inspiration in designing individual pieces, but created a broader theme or story, and created the designs to match it.She said the show was designed to evoke a girl growing into womanhood. The first pieces are very playful, all pure whites and beiges. The outfits become a bit more transparent to give a sense of understanding oneself,High-grade A-line Chiffon Beaded Round Neck Prom Dress with some intentional awkwardness meant to give the feeling of growing up.As the show progresses, more color and bold lines appear.“By the time we get to the end,Pink Chiffon a-line strapless flower bridesmaid dresses she is a queen,” Noyes said. “She’s strong, she’s unique and she’s confident in that uniqueness.”