Ready for the autumn and winter, Dries van Noten presented a “grounded” collection during Paris fashion week.

There were sumptuous fabrics and simple cottons on show from the Belgian designer who is known for his love of intricate textiles and he stages just two women’s wear shows a year because of the time required to develop them.

Bit he was anxious not to let the exotic run away with what was meant to be a “ready-to-wear” show in the French capital. It paired regal red and gold tunics worthy of Henry VIII with cotton cargo pants, huge deep purple skirts with sleeveless shirt dresses.

Van Noten said he had deliberately matched the voluminous with the fitted, the exotic with the everyday to make his collection wearable.

“It’s a clash between the masculine and the feminine, precious fabrics with really day fabrics, because at the end it’s clothes to wear today,” he explained.

New designer Adam Andrascik is now at the helm of Guy Laroche and his latest ready-to-wear offering