Ophelia, the most famous work by John Everett Millais, was the inspiration behind Dries Van Noten’s poetic collection of fairy tale dresses, tiered chiffon and ornamental brocade. The original story behind this painting is a little less serene: it depicts Hamlet Act IV scene VII, in which Ophelia, distraught at the news that her father has been murdered by her lover, drowns herself in a forest stream. But let's forget about that, as the Dries interpretation was a beautiful moment, infused with tranquility by the light-as-air fabrics, textures and dewy hues of a magical forest, translated literally with a moss-coated catwalk designed by Argentinean artist Alexandra Keyayoglou.
Silk and organza in gold, oatmeal and bronze were interspersed with lolly-pop stripes in sheer and shine — a Dries Van Noten multi-coloured dream coat, alongside chiffon florals and spaghetti straps. The show had a dreamy, restorative air of calm, as Strange Entity by Oscar and the Wolf sang softly over the nymph-like models. And just in case a Dries girl is ever to fall into a forest river too, Van Noten dressed each model in white beach sliders.
