fashionologie

Dries Van Noten Likes Fast Fashion, Thinks Beautiful Things Are "Boring"

fashionologie — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:14:36 PDT

>> Belgian fashion legend Dries Van Noten talked about his life and his work Thursday night at the French Institute Alliance Francaise's final Fashion Talk, giving the audience a little insight into the way his brain works.

Van Noten touched on a range of subjects, from the unique relationship he has with his creations to what it was like going to design school at Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Below, some of our favorite quotes from the talks.

On fashion school: "Going to fashion school in the '70s, it was really difficult to be judged by a [teacher] who said, like, 'No short skirts, only pants,' or, 'You can do short skirts, but then you have to cover the knees with stockings,' and things like that . . . 'Long hair is untidy, so it had to be all chignon or short hair.' 'Jeans are for poor people.' So, that was our teacher. So, in fact, when you have so many restrictions, you have to be enormously creative."

On his clothing: "I'm more inspired by things which I don't like . . . nothing is so boring as something beautiful. I prefer ugly things, I prefer things which are surprising . . . You force yourself to ask yourself questions. Quite often I make a collection and I say, 'Here's a color I really don't like.' . . . My assistants will say 'OK, you don't like lilac,' [that means] this season will be lilac."

On runway presentations: "Fashion shows are really my way of communication. I don't go on Twitter, I don't go to parties, I don't often do fashion talks like this. So for me, it's really what I want to communicate. It's the end of the story . . . So the venue, the light, the location, the sound, the hair, the makeup, all makes it for me. You have 10 minutes to explain to your audience what you're doing, what you want to tell. So everything has to be perfect."

On fast fashion: "That's one of the disadvantages of modern technology. It's so fast, that it's already like, a few minutes after the show, on the Internet, you have like, the shoe's details from the back, side, front. It makes it easy sometimes . . . I think it's the reality. I don't want to live in the old world, like 35, 30 years ago when people had prêt-à-porter and that was it. I think fast fashion is good. I think modern people combine vintage with designer clothes, with a piece they buy at Zara or other stores - why not?"

Dries Van Noten Fall 2012

fashionologie — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:52:41 PST

>> This season, Dries Van Noten took a trip to Asia - by way of the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The scarf-like prints that dominated the collection were actually photo prints taken from the traditional garments of the museum's Far East collection.

To balance the exotic nature of the prints, Van Noten did exactly what Van Noten does best. That is, he kept the silhouettes wearable and and the styling relatable. Cropped coats, midi skirts, and high-neck blouses had an everyday ease about them, while fabrics - wool, tweed, silk - were luxe but practical. A smattering of gold embroidery in the form of cranes in flight looked particularly lovely as embellishment on the bust of a pinstriped blazer.

View Slideshow ›

Karl Lagerfeld Gets a Kitten, Miranda Kerr Gets a New Gig, and All the Best Accessories From the Golden Globes

Christina Perez — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:16:30 PST

>> Today's stories and more - here, in our daily news roundup.

Karl Lagerfeld has a new pet kitten [The Cut]

Terry Richardson dresses cute little girls like himself [Styleite]

Kate Moss celebrates 38th birthday with a food marathon [Telegraph]

Dries Van Noten's Spring collection is being showcased alongside the art that inspired it
[Lucky]

Miranda Kerr is the new face of Qantas [Vogue UK]

Roksanda Illincic will design a line of childrenswear [Grazia]

A new biopic hails photographer David Bailey's revolutionary week with Jean Shrimpton [Nowness]

Rebecca Minkoff's new line of condoms is out [Glamour]

All the best accessories from the Golden Globes [FabSugar]

Air Guitar and Applause - Backstage at Dries van Noten, Rochas, and Rue du Mail

fashionologie — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:20:14 PDT

>> The first full day of Paris Fashion Week shows got off to a lighthearted note backstage - Saskia de Brauw was caught playing air guitar just after walking Rue du Mail, Bette Franke was snapped sniffing Suvi Koponen's necklace pre-Dries van Noten, and a smiling Liu Wen rested herself at the bottom of a spiral staircase behind-the-scenes at Rochas. Those pictures, and more from all three shows, in the gallery.

Photos: Greg Kessler

View Slideshow ›

Dries Van Noten Spring 2012

fashionologie — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:26:48 PDT

View Slideshow ›

Fall 2011 Paris Fashion Week's Top Bags You Won't Want to Live Without!

fashionologie — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:19:22 PST

>> Hannah MacGibbon did bucket bags at Chloe and Valentino sent out delicate shoulder bags, but really, when it came right down to it, Paris designers had a one-track mind this season: clutches, clutches, and more clutches. See our favorites handbags, overwhelmingly of the clutch variety, in the slideshow - including the Dries Van Noten stunner, at left.

View Slideshow ›

The Big 3-0 - Our Favorite Fall 2011 Paris Fashion Week Shoes!

fashionologie — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:57:29 PST

>> At last, the denouement: Fall 2011 Fashion Month is over and out. But before you get back to your regularly scheduled program, may we introduce our favorite shoes from Paris Fashion Week: there's lots of snakeskin, lots of black and white . . . and we couldn't forget those intricately laced Louis Vuitton boots - Kate Moss's pair apparently took four people an hour to lace up!

View Slideshow ›

The Best Backstage Snaps from Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas!

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:16:16 PST

>> Paris Fashion Week has started off with a big bang thanks to designers like Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas. But what you didn't see - until now - was the backstage action that went on between getting ready and hitting the runway. Check out detailed shots of Gareth Pugh's golden creations; a growling Jourdan Dunn; close-ups of Dries Van Noten's decadent velvet-trimmed handbags; and more cool backstage snaps in the slideshow.

Photos courtesy of Greg Kessler

View Slideshow ›

Dries Van Noten Fall 2011

fashionologie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:27:51 PST

View Slideshow ›

Spring 2011 - The Return of the Wide-Leg Trouser

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:40:05 PST

>> Designers, like Dries Van Noten, Monique Lhuillier, Celine, and Derek Lam, have reverted back to the wide-leg pant for Spring, and there's no need to wait until warmer weather to try out the trend. A crisp cotton version is ideal for a casual day at work, while silkier options add panache for a night out in the town. Shop our fantastic finds from Adam, Gap, Vince, and Marc Jacobs to get the look now.