Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012: Pattern-Blocking at Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten (or Dries Van Awesome, as he’s known in this office) showed his spring 2012 collection in Paris yesterday. The collection, full of couture-like looks that fell away from the body in sihouettes like cocoon coats and boxy jackets, may have been his best yet. He worked with young photographer James Reeve, whose work showed up on dresses that looked like scrapbooks—pieces of one picture juxtaposed with a completely different scene.

This pattern-blocking of various landscapes—the ocean, the jungle, a cityscape—all on one garment makes for a veritable eyefeast. These are not clothes that you’ll see on young Hollywood starlets, these are clothes for the Cate Blanchetts of the world—for women who know themselves and appreciate the handiwork and design prowess of a master. There were brief hints of trends—lace, florals and peplum— but Van Noten doesn’t need trends. His clothes stand firmly on their own. Bravo.