Dries Van Noten’s impending retirement is just days away, and we’re looking back at a week’s worth of the designer’s best moments. Today, ‘s resident street style photographer , who’s been in the business since the early years of online street style, considered what exactly it is that has made Van Noten’s work such a key presence in his 500-plus galleries during Fashion Week.
“Well, I think it’s the customers that make it so special. Those who appreciate Dries Van Noten don’t just wear his clothes as a ‘statement piece’ but rather mix and match it with other fun pieces to make it their own,” said Oh. Compared to the other shows he is often shooting at, the Dries Van Noten shows are less influencer or VIP-packed and usually draw the IYKYK fashion crowd including , stylists, and buyers. Now and then there may be the occasional A-lister like A$AP Rocky, but oftentimes the people outside the DVN show are real customers of the brand.
Oh’s list of his favorite people who wear Dries is long, including the designer’s favorite runway models (Sara Blomqvist, Daiane Conterato) who used to leave the shows in full looks, Sarah Rutson, and Bettina Oldenburg, but his favorite of all time is . “I mean, is there any other answer than Odiele? Sure it helps that she’s amassed a huge archive of Dries, having walked in countless of his runway shows, but no one does it like her,” said Oh.
Also on the list? Himself. In the few instances where Oh is the one getting photographed instead of photographing, he’s spotted in a combination of Dries and his Nike Golf Air Max “Grass” sneakers. And while Oh has never actually met the designer in his decade-long photography career, the memories and clothes will live on forever in ‘s street style archive. Here we take a look back at Oh’s favorite Dries Van Noten moments in London, Milan, Paris, and Milan.
