A Look Back at his Illustrious Career.
In March 2024, Dries Van Noten left the fashion world reeling when he announced his retirement from his namesake label. After working in the industry for 38 years, he bowed out as creative director with his Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection. The 66-year-old explained the reasoning behind his departure on social media: “Now, I want to shift my focus to all the things I never had the time for.” Fortunately, Van Noten won’t be stepping back entirely, continuing to exercise his artistic talents by remaining involved in the brand’s beauty business and stores. His successor is yet to be named and apparently, the search for the founder’s replacement is ongoing. In his goodbye letter, he stated “in due time, we will announce the designer who will continue the story of the DVN Men & Women.”
This surprising news marks the end of Van Noten’s fashion design career, which began after he graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium in 1981. He rose to prominence as a member of the original Antwerp Six, a legendary group of early 1980s graduates from his alma mater. The young designer presented his first men’s collection in a showroom in Antwerp in 1986 and in 1993, he introduced his womenswear line to the Paris runways. As a third-generation tailor, Van Noten is renowned for his meticulous garment construction. His work is recognisable not only for its craftsmanship, but for his exuberant prints and embroideries. A typical DVN look features vibrant hues combined in unexpected ways, blending experimentation with wearability.
PHOTO CREDIT: Dries Van Noten
As the world waits to find out what’s next for the label, PAUSE takes a brief look back at some of Dries Van Noten’s most memorable collections.
Men’s Spring/Summer 2005
For SS05, Van Noten transformed the interior of the École des Beaux-Arts into the rooms of a stately country house. Attendees sat in leather armchairs and the models casually weaved through the random seating arrangement. The collection drew inspiration from Prince Harry, channelling the rebellious royal through Bermuda shorts, check jackets and kilts paired with casual shirts.
PHOTO CREDIT: firstVIEW
Men’s Autumn/Winter 2012
Typographer Letman and Dutch artist Gijs Frieling designed a mural on a canvas backdrop, created by a team of painters during the show. Their artwork also appeared on shirts, blazers and coats. Additional inspiration came from Oscar Wilde and Frank Zappa, showcased through dapper double-breasted outerwear and psychedelic-print trousers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Showstudio
Men’s Spring/Summer 2025
Dries Van Noten’s swan song took place in a warehouse with a silver leaf-covered catwalk. It opened with model Alain Goussin, who had walked in Van Noten’s first menswear runway show. In the collection notes, the creative director cited Belgian conceptual artist Edith Dekyndt, whose paintings glisten with a wet-look finish and whose sculptures are rendered in metallic hues. Her influence was realized through cellophane-like coats, gold t-shirts and relaxed trousers. The designer gave a final wave before a curtain dropped to reveal a giant glittering disco ball, and he exited to the sounds of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Dries Van Noten
