RUNWAY: Dries Van Noten FW13

Dries Van Noten's Fall/Winter 2013 was a sparring match between two forces: hard and soft. The hard being the Belgian designer's penchant for studs and leather, which appeared together. The soft, which often prevailed, were a plethora of silks and paisley print that often butted heads with the hard edged pieces in the collection. In the end, however, the collection struck a harmonious balance between the two forces to create some of the season's most versatile looks. Other key notes in the collection we thought to be quite smart were the oversized coats, with wide, sloping shoulders and lush loungewear via elegant robes in cashmere or quilted silk.