PARIS, Jan 28, 2002/--- Is there a greater lover of the exotic, a more eccentric or generous spirit in men’s wear than Dries Van Noten, who showed his autumn-winter 2002 men’s collection in Paris Friday night?

Dries outfitted four Antwerp food vans in the courtyard of the Beaux Arts with Belgium fries, beignets de pomme, candy floss and toffee apples for the fashion pack before the last show of the opening day.

While the runways of Milan and Paris have been invaded by job-interview clothes, Van Noten has maintained his sense of humor, casual style and appreciation of color.

He staged the collection by a giant school blackboard.

Nonetheless, he is not out of step with the current serious mood.

If designers are economic indicators, and they often are, the world economy is going to be stressful over the next six months.

Judging from what we’ve seen on the European men’s runways, you can forget Alan Greenspan’s more optimistic recent pronouncements.

For this new era of formality, Van Noten created a brilliantly cool new suit silhouette: a short eight-button jacket, cut high in the front, with tiny side vents over stiff, wide pants, which he showed in flannel and tweed.

They were arty and distinguished at the same time.

His longhaired models wore brown country gent’s boots and carried postman bags.

As ever, there were splendid scarves -- this season in black sequins -- from the best muffler maker in men’s fashion.

Dries Van Noten Menswear

Dries Van Noten Menswear

Dries Van Noten Menswear