FRAGRANCE FRIDAY: DRIES VAN NOTEN ARRIVES EXCLUSIVELY AT MECCA

As uniquely eclectic and inspiring as his legendary designs, Dries Van Noten’s collection of fragrances, make-up and beauty accessories will be available to shop exclusively at select MECCA stores and online from August 27th, 2024.
A Belgian designer from a family of tailors, the preternaturally talented Van Noten graduated from Antwerp’s prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts and was soon hailed as one of the acclaimed Antwerp Six, when they arrived in London to launch their eponymous labels in 1986. His unabashedly cerebral menswear and womenswear collections have since garnered a legion of global fans and international awards, including the honour of Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres awarded by the French Ministry of Culture in 2014. Following an inner creative compass that is impervious to fashion, Dries is renowned for his signature eclecticism, and although he stepped down from his role as chief creative officer oh his house earlier this year, he remains involved in all things DVN including the creations that make up his eponymous beauty collection,
The house design codes of counterpoint and contrast are vividly reflected in the likes of fragrance bottles and lipstick cases, each of the former a visual expression of the duality within the fragrance and an absolute joy to behold. I personally love that all of the fragrance bottles and lipstick cases are refillable and imminently collectable, and sustainable design development processes include the use of responsibly sourced, recyclable materials: glass and aluminium, and PEFC® certified wood from sustainably managed forests. The fragrances feature from 85% upwards natural origin ingredients while the makeup is animal-friendly and enriched with rosehip oil, and even the DVN drawstring pouches use upcycled fabrics from previous fashion collections. Just fabulous, right?

THE FRAGRANCES
A walk in Dries’ garden and immersion in his world sparked the inspiration of the leading international perfumers he invited to co- create. Each interprets and shares their own creative vision of the brand’s unexpected olfactive universe. The result? Contradictory, rule- breaking, game-changing genderless fragrances which still pay homage to traditional perfumery gestures with bottles inspired by apothecary vials. This traditionally modern collection includes classic eaux de colognes, soap bars and scented creams in impossible combinations that coexist beautifully.
A selection of scented hand creams to enhance the fragrance experience feature natural origin ingredients, formulated with rosehip oil, shea butter, almond oil and natural antioxidants to moisturise and care for skin, while a choice of two perfumed bar soaps are as traditional as they are ground breaking.

MAKEUP
With more than 100 fashion shows to his name Dries Van Noten knows beauty. Working with the world’s leading hair and make-up creatives his shows have always featured fearless beauty statements that play on the materiality of fashion, using feathers, beads, jewels and metals alongside make-up to complement his collections and adorn his models; the pared-back beauty look is rarely Dries’ aesthetic.
“Makeup is magic: it’s the way you want to show yourself, to express yourself and how you feel at a certain moment,” says Van Noten, and I am frantically coveting the refillable lipstick edit. Four cases, in clashing top and bottom prints inspired by fabrics from the fashion collections, open to reveal a choice of 30 colours in satin, matte and sheer finishes and one clear balm. Consciously created with a caring formula that features rosehip oil to care for the lips, available at MECCA will be: four satin shades, one matte shade, two sheers and a transparent balm.

Fashionable beauty accessories will also be available, including an Italian resin comb in bi-colour blue marble and yellow; tortoiseshell print and pink, and Italian silk scarves specially designed to complement each EDP fragrance, with a matching pattern created for the overall collection.

Just sublime. See you in store next week!