A complex auditory experience was crafted from sound bites and music snippets featuring icons like Bowie, Warhol, and other artistic legends, setting the backdrop for the show. Despite the intricate soundscape, the show itself was beautifully straightforward. The emphasis was on impeccable clothing, and boy, was it emphasized. Even without the soundtrack, the presentation was dizzyingly poetic, with references to the artist’s studio, psychedelia, and luxurious leisure, all viewed through a tailor’s lens. This show made a compelling case for the renewed emphasis on tailoring that’s been prominent in this men’s fashion calendar. These were the outfits we longed to wear and be seen in, whenever we felt the urge (the raincoats were reversible, sporting patterned linings).
The tie-dye prints weren’t purely organic handprints as they initially seemed. The precise symmetry and pattern placement in the tailoring were meticulously engineered. For softer materials like cotton and knitwear, they were hand-dyed in the traditional manner: a subtle yet fittingly elegant detail from Van Noten. The show concluded with an exquisitely crafted tuxedo — a sleek new silhouette paired with soft trousers, a white cotton shirt, a matching tie, and a padded blanket draped casually over the arm. It was the most compelling argument for daytime formality we’ve ever witnessed. Simply perfection.