PARIS - Dries Van Noten once said: "The more clashing it is, the more that I like it!"
This statement should in theory have been proven true by the Antwerp designer's patterned and flowery ode to spring-summer 2013 — a commanding show at Paris Fashion Week that mixed up wildly divergent textures, styles, cuts and shapes.
He showed ruffled 3-D flower applies and floral prints on Wednesday, mixed with blown-up Prince of Wales check, plaid, tartan and beaded denim. Those were pursued eccentrically down the catwalk by sheer organza shirts, metallic menswear jackets and oversized peplums.
Unfortunately, nothing is ever simple with Van Noten — a noted master of contradictions.
The preview, incredibly, was of the most harmonious Van Noten shows in some time, owing to its fine tonal colour palette. Traditional tartans blended softly into a haze of faded orange, peach, rose, nude, russet, silver and duck egg blue.
It felt like spring was in the air.
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Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP
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