When Dries Van Noten (the man) announced his retirement from Dries Van Noten (the brand), unexpected was an understatement. Van Noten’s decision to step down came as quite a show to the world of fashion, one notorious for its lack of retirees. Giorgio Armani, 89, and Ralph Lauren, 84, remain at the helm of their respective Houses, and Karl Lagerfel, age 85 when he died, hadn’t nearly finished his work for Chanel, Fendi and his eponymous label. In short, retirement from couture is rare.  And yet, at 65, Van Noten relishes it.

The Belgian designer has already put a foolproof succession plan in place, one that goes by the name of Julian Klausner. Klausner, who joined the Dries Van Noten group in 2018, studied at the esteemed Belgian visual arts school, La Cambre, interned for Thom Browne before working as a junior stylist at Maison Margiela. Following his recruitment at Dries Van Noten, Klausner worked closely alongside Dries himself, designing and developing the Antwerp-based House’s women’s collections. The Dries Van Noten brand is recognized for the eccentric prints and intricate embroidery that adorn its silhouettes ー splendid lessons in relaxed refinement that took audiences several years to fully embrace. 

As Creative Director, Klausner will advance both the mens and womenswear branches, revealing his first Menswear Winter 2025 Collection via lookbook, before debuting at Paris Fashion Week in February. His first women’s runway collection as creative director will be presented in March, 2025. 

“I have complete confidence in Julian’s creativity and vision,” Dries Van Noten says in a statement. “He is not only a talented designer, but also a clear choice to take over after my departure. His deep understanding of the brand and its values will ensure a seamless transition and a bright future.” With a strong background in high fashion, Klausner is poised to usher in the next era of Dries Van Noten with a conviction reminiscent of the zeal the House’s founder delivered nearly 40 years ago.