In the day and age of the super front row and the accompanying photographer mayhem (see Julia Roberts at Gucci) and the super location where the Jardin de Tuileries is taken over by Dior so they can build a black box as show set (yes, not even a see through roof or any hint the audience was in a garden) which must have cost a lot of money and of course had even a bigger celebrity mayhem, it is reassuring to know that Dries Van Noten who is on top of his industry and whose show is visited by every editor and buyer who matters (and not celebrities), loves to choose bare industrial construction sites as show venues. Places that are about to change after the renovation just like his collections change every six months. And he kept it very basic as he explained backstage after the show. “I wanted an elegant take on men’s wear and avoid any kind of embellishment.” So the collection revolved around long elegant coats, chinos, oversized jackets, often English school blazers and rugby stripes. Everything had a worn in and weathered look, which was the point as most of the garments were washed even stone washed before. Let’s just say the bare environment helped to focus on the one thing a fashion show should still be about: the clothes and they spoke very loud.