THIS MAN IS HAVING A REALLY GOOD CAREER: DRIES VAN NOTEN IS HONORED BY THE COUTURE COUNCIL

new york - talk about hitting his stride. is it just me or does it seem like dries van noten is really just having his moment. noten might seem like a flavor of the month - or in his case - a couple of years - but he's paid his dues. he started his label in 1986 and prior to that was part of the movement of belgium designers who really revolutionalized clothing design. noten is being recognized for his amazing body of work and contributions to the fashion industry by the couture council at f.i.t. (yeah, i didn't know this existed either.) noten is the new kid on a very presitigious block: isabel toledo, alber elbaz and ralph rucci have all been honored in the past. the ceremony will take place at a lunch at ciprianis in new york. "his incredible sensitivity to color, to pattern and to ornamentation - and the way he has searched the world to find crafts people who can do what he wants them to do - is extraordinary," said valerie steele, director of the museum at f.i.t. "his clothes are unmistakably his. i think they have made a really important contribution to the history of contemporary fashion." agreed. zandile blay

photo: mr. van noten; source, vouge.co.uk