New York-based designer Fe Noel, presented her spring 2023 collection during New York Fashion Week with an array of her signature feminine silhouettes. Titled “Wish You Were Here, Duality In Three Acts,” the show closed with “The Dre$$.” Constructed of dollar bills, the hand-made gown features a 16-foot train.
The gown was created in collaboration with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), a teachers insurance and annuity association as a statement on the gender pay gap. The length of the gown symbolized $1.6 million in retirement savings that women in the United States will not have access to, as a result of the wage gap between men and women.
In press about the gown, Noel stated, “I knew I wanted this to be a couture gown. Each detail was thought through and intentional. It’s a structured gown with a solid foundation; the direction of the dollar bills is purposeful; the finishings and corset are all designed to convey strength and structure, something women exhibit. This dress is about laying a strong foundation and building on top of that. It represents women’s strength while also highlighting a very real problem in society, the 30% retirement income gap between women and men.”
Check ou Fe Noel’s