Phil Oh Reflects on His Favorite Dries Van Noten Looks in Street Style

Dries Van Noten’s impending retirement is just days away, and we’re looking back at a week’s worth of the designer’s best moments. Today, Vogue’s resident street style photographer Phil Oh, who’s been in the business since the early years of online street style, considered what exactly it is that has made Van Noten’s work such a key presence in his galleries of 500-plus photos during Fashion Week.

“Well, I think it’s the customers that make it so special,” said Oh. “Those who appreciate Dries Van Noten don’t just wear his clothes as statement pieces but rather mix and match them with other fun pieces to make them their own.” Compared to the other shows he often shoots at, Dries Van Noten is less packed with influencers or VIPs and usually draws the IYKYK fashion crowd, including editors, stylists, and buyers. Now and then there may be the occasional A-lister like A$AP Rocky, but oftentimes the people outside the DVN show are real customers of the brand.

Oh’s list of his favorite people who wear Dries is long, including the designer’s favored runway models (like Sara Blomqvist and Daiane Conterato, who would leave the shows in full looks), Sarah Rutson, and Bettina Oldenburg. But his favorite of all time is Hanne Gaby Odiele. “I mean, is there any other answer than Odiele?” said Oh. “Sure it helps that she’s amassed a huge archive of Dries, having walked in countless of his runway shows, but no one does it like her.” Also on the list? Himself. In the few instances where Oh is the one getting photographed instead of photographing, he’s spotted in a combination of Dries and his Nike Air Max Golf Grass sneakers.

And while Oh has never actually met the designer in his decade-long photography career, the memories and clothes will live on forever in Vogue’s street style archive. Here we take a look back at Oh’s favorite Dries Van Noten moments in street style.