Dries Van Noten Spring / Summer 2016

PARIS — There are few better entries into the thick of Fashion Week in the French capital than via Dries Van Noten. The Belgian designer’s commitment to the art of the craft are part of what makes him equally respected and adored. Wednesday afternoon’s runway show underwent a change a change of address from the palatial Hôtel de Ville to the nearly raw industrial space just down the block from Père Lachaise, which rendered any contest however absurd between venue and vestments settled. The afternoon belonged to Dries and, truth be told, an Argentinian beauty named Mila Ganame, who on the day opened the Dries runway show. This was quite an occasion for Mila, what with not only making her debut in Paris, but also for such a revered figure as Dries Van Noten is. Mila took it all in stride and was in turn followed in the lineup by a further nine models including Lineisy Montero, Liza O, Klementyna Dmowska, Jay Wright, Grace Hartzel, Elle Zadaysvichka, Olivia Jansing, Wangy, and Odette Pavlova. If Philipp Plein’s use of Kraftwerk’s “The Robots” playing over top actual sophisticated robotics last week in Milan, then its runway performance as a string arrangement offered a potent counterpoint. Kraftwerk Unplugged, as it were, permitted Dries to accompany his collection with a score that was equal parts discipline and free expression. Which, in a lot of ways is what the designer’s collections are at their best like it was Wednesday afternoon. Credits include: Client, Dries Van Noten