Dries van Noten, a member of the Antwerp Six, recently bid farewell to his illustrious fashion career with a final show in Paris. After shocking the industry by announcing his retirement, van Noten made it clear that he did not want his final show to be nostalgic or retrospective. Instead, he wanted to focus on the future.
The show took place in a former boiler-making factory on the outskirts of Paris, with a 3D box showcasing van Noten’s greatest hits. The guest list included fashion luminaries like Diane von Fürstenberg and Thom Browne, all showing their love and appreciation for the designer by wearing his creations.
Van Noten’s aesthetic is known for rich fabrications, hybrid colors, textures, and prints. His final collection featured shimmering fabrics, delicate gold embroidery, and whisper-thin materials that resembled sweet wrappers. The show was a blend of practicality and luxury, with trench coats, velvets, silks, and pixelated florals.
Despite his retirement, van Noten will still be involved in his brand’s beauty and makeup line and the design of its stores. However, he will no longer own the brand’s Instagram handle, signaling a new chapter in his life.
As guests left the show, they scrambled to pick up pieces of the silver foil from the catwalk as a tangible memento. Van Noten took his final bow in his signature navy knit, white T-shirt, and beige chinos, signaling the end of an era in fashion.
Although van Noten’s retirement may have surprised many, his legacy as a fashion icon is sure to live on. His unique vision and creative designs have left an indelible mark on the industry, ensuring that his influence will be felt for years to come.