Reviewing Dries Van Noten's Last Collection (SS25 Menswear)

Dries Van Noten bid adieu to the runway with a spellbinding farewell SS25 collection in Paris. His soirée was akin to a family wedding, culminating in a mesmerizing fashion show that echoed his illustrious career. The night erupted into celebration as a mirror ball the size of a house flickered to life. Van Noten's Spring Summer 2025 men's collection was fresh yet familiar, with nods to past shows like the Autumn 2011 Bowie-inspired men's and the Autumn 2009 Bacon-inspired women's collections. The silver-leaf runway, reminiscent of Autumn 2006, left guests with shimmering mementos. His final collection was a masterclass in relaxed elegance and artful embellishments. Who would have known a fashion heartbreak could hurt so badly? Yesterday, in anticipation of Dries Van Noten‘s last show ever, the fashion industry was going through a collective mourning. Today, it’s a collective hungover, and not the most uplifting one. The thought that spring-summer 2025 collection was the last Dries show by Dries, and that there won’t be a Dries moment every Paris Fashion Week is just way too much to handle. I can hardly imagine how will this brand operate without its founder, and please, whoever takes it over – don’t dare to remove “Dries” from the brand name. And I really hope it’s true that Van Noten will quietly advise the design team or the still unknown successor for the next couple of seasons. Still, I want to own every single piece from the Belgian designer’s final outing, his 12