PFW SS16: Dries Van Noten

Nobody mixes colour, pattern and texture quite like Antwerp-native Dries Van Noten. His S/S’16 show was bold and beautiful, with gentle nods to the ’40s and ’50s. “She’s really flamboyant,” Van Noten explained of his woman. “That was really the starting word for this collection. She enjoys life.”

The collection was presented in a run-down warehouse, its rawness the perfect canvas for the jarring clash of dual-toned brocade and jacquard Van Noten shows such mastery with. Models had their hair in a loose interpretation of the victory roll of the ’40s but more undone, with wispy flyaway strands giving the look a rawer edge. Faces were kept fuss-free with the exception of bright streaks of glittery turquoise liner. Accessories were vintage inspired: rounded cateye glasses and opera gloves embellished to look almost like henna tattoos. Glamorous but free-spirited, the kind of girl who might drink tea from an heirloom Baccarat champagne coupe because she’s run out of clean cups.

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