Get In My Closet: Interview with Yara Flinn of Nomia

Images: Samantha Contis 

Nomia's hallmarks are clean lines, cutouts, artful draping, and hug your body in all the right places design and tailoring. Is it any wonder the name of the line is drawn from a Greek mythological nymph? Flinn launched her collection in 2007, after a chance encounter with a Barney's buyer who noticed her artful designs on her friend, jewelry designer Pamela Love.


Yara Flinn (a featured designer in the GenArt's 2010 "The New Guard" fashion showcase) has since capitalized on her auspicious beginnings and steadily grown the label into a staple of the downtown set.


Her latest collection for Spring 2012 featured a runway show at NYFW, with artist Georgia O'Keefe's vocals as the soundtrack, putting her training as a video artist and sculptor to good use. The line was full of pastel shades and painterly designs that call to mind O'Keefe paintings, mixed with bold separates. It was an erudite and stunning fusion of fashion and art that most people would only dream of pulling off, and that I wish I had been on hand to see live. 


The Nomia collection, entirely produced in New York,  has been featured in exclusive boutiques nationwide, including Barney’s Coop, OAK, Intermix, Steven Alan in New York City, and most recently (and locally) at The Tannery, where Yara Flinn was in store for a trunk show last weekend. 


Yara was kind enough to give us some insight into her line, her favourite piece from the current collection (mine too!), and address the question on everyones mind: cupcake or macaron.

Who are your biggest influences design wise?

Helmut Lang, Raf Simons and 1990s Calvin Klein.

  

How do you prepare for each line? Any inspiration or ideas for Fall 2012 you can share?

I draw on artists a lot for inspiration, or museum collections.  I'm still excited about using color, so I will probably experiment more with that. I find that there is always a bit of continuation from season to season for me, but that is a good thing. I like that pieces from one collection can be mixed with pieces from another.

Who do you design for?

I design for a woman who appreciates quality, originality and timelessness. She likes subtly edgy pieces that are more detail oriented.

The Spring 2012 line and show drew on Georgia O'Keefe in many ways- what sparked the inspiration for artist as muse?

Georgia O'Keeffe was more of an inspiration to me as a woman, an incredibly independent, creative visionary. She is the archetypal NOMIA woman. The color palette from Spring was drawn from her surroundings- New Mexico, the azure sky juxtaposed with the sienna earth, the vermillion sunsets, etc.

If you weren't designing what would you be doing?

I'm really not sure! My dream would have been probably to be a musician. I love music and need it around me every waking hour.

What is the stand out piece from your latest collection?

The white ankle length dress with side and back cutouts. It's the first time I did a long dress - I think it manages to be elegant and yet wearable at the same time.

5 Questions with MPCC:

Two dinner guests, dead or alive, you would most like to entertain?

I think my answer to this question changes daily, but today let's say Kate Moss and Johnny Depp because they were my favorite 90s couple.

Macaron or cupcake?

I'm not crazy about sweets, but I like some Macarons like the Earl Grey one from Laduree

Favourite scent?

Vetiver, musk

Three products you could never live without?

In order of most common daily usage: Tom Ford - White Suede (perfume), iPod, black ankle boots.

Song currently on repeat?

Do your best - John Maus

Yara Flinn