Dries Van Noten’s RTW Spring 2014 collection was a spectacular fusion of reality with showmanship. It was blend of disparate elements brought into clear, fabulous focus.
The collection was a stunning display of dark tulip damasks, jet black ruffles, Byzantine gold, Ottoman tassels, and embroideries. The designer teased the face-off between the peasant authenticity of raw cotton and the outrageous flounce of gold lamé ruffles by sticking them in the same outfit. A tiny star print countered the scale of giant floral and a barbed-wire print, their prettiness. Van Noten’s use of honest, hardy fabrics like poplin, calico and natural linen resulted into bold combination of rich and poor. The astonishing looks were the roomy jackets and pants with a hint of the Eighties and a gold leather waistcoat gleamed under a rough calico coat.
