Made in St. Louis: Designer studied under Lauren, Posen and more
As seeN IN THE POST-DISPATCH
How did a clothing designer born and raised in Delaware and trained in the finest houses of Paris end up moving to and thriving in St. Louis? It’s a story only Audra Noyes Herndon can tell, but it ends with: “We just fell in love with St. Louis and received so much support here.”
As a young girl, Herndon was always creative, painting and making jewelry, she says. “I had no intention of going into the fashion industry, though, I just looked at clothing as a form of self-expression, like a lot of teens do.” She remembers cutting up her grandmother’s nightgowns to make new outfits from the old pieces.
But during her freshman year of high school, her father died. “I found art as a form of self-expression and therapy.” Thus, she began delving into art training in high school.
“I explored various mediums, primarily focusing on large-scale oil paintings and mixed-media batik,” Herndon says. “I was fortunate to have a wonderful and supportive art teacher who provided a space for me to grieve, process my emotions, and discover my voice as a creative young woman.”