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Joynoëlle
By Elizabeth Dehn
Photo by David J. Turner
312 W. 42nd St., Minneapolis, 612-209-7822
The bride has flown in from Atlanta for a fitting. Surrounded by antique rugs and gently worn settees, she’s especially radiant. Her wedding gown’s metallic-tapestry bodice and empire waist befit a modern-day princess—chic, regal, and a touch avant-garde. It’s the look that Joy Teiken does best. Four years after Teiken left a teaching job to pursue clothing design full-time, her Joynoëlle collection is now available at a new Minneapolis boutique, which also serves as her workshop. Here, amid bolts of fabric and pelts of fur, a small and stylish troupe of seamstresses cheerfully stitch and shape and bring her visions to life. Customers peruse racks of ready-to-wear dresses and accessories, or work with Teiken to design their own, using different colors, textures, and such details as bustles, overlays, and hand-sewn appliqués. They might select one of Teiken’s trench coats, with their luxe fabrics and ruffled sleeves—a Joynoëlle signature. At the front of the shop sits a pink, heart-shaped chair. Teiken invites brides to have a seat and make a wish. And, like a fairy godmother, she often grants them.
