- PARIS: The venue where Dries Van Noten held his fall-winter 2011-12 ready-to-wear show was almost completely dark, but the Belgian designer’s colorblock dresses, in eye-popping prints and high-wattage lame, lit up the stately hall.
Noten’s magpie eye and flair for color have won him critical praise and a loyal customer base, but the Antwerp-based wonder outdid himself with Wednesday’s collection, a tour de force that showcased his intuitive feeling for fabrics — which is nearly unparalleled in the business.
He sent out drop-waisted sheathdresses in a patchwork of orange, and electric blue silks printed with liquid swirls that were full of surprises: A swath of shimmering sequins or lustrous lame that dressed up a single sleeve, or an unexpected graphic black and white panel, visible when the model turned her back.
Ultra-wide-legged trousers were paired with cropped jackets in satin brocade, lined at the lapel with black astrakhan. The translucent plastic-heeled booties made sharp clacking noises on the wooden catwalk, a ballroom at Paris City Hall.
There was a vaguely ‘70s feel about the collection, but it was less of a recognizable influence than a suggestion — a mere hint. Really, the collection was pure, unadulterated Dries.
