-SPECIAL- “DRIES VAN NOTEN” 90’s–00’s Rayon linen tailored long jacket and shorts set up

Introduced by DRIES VAN NOTEN, a member of Antwerp Six who has built a distinct vision for luxury fashion through an exceptional sense of color and outstanding textile craft, this set-up reflects the brand’s signature quiet aesthetic.

Capturing the atmosphere of the 1990s to the early 2000s, this exceptional piece combines two seemingly contrasting items—a long-length jacket and knee-length shorts—yet achieves a seamless unity through their finely tuned balance, encapsulating DRIES VAN NOTEN’s world in which classic tailoring is reinterpreted with lightness.

The fabric is made primarily of rayon and blended with linen, allowing both a smooth fall and linen’s natural, characteristic speckling to coexist beautifully. The result is a captivating look: soft drape paired with a pleasantly refreshing feel. In addition, the deep brown color appears to carry a subtle hint of red depending on how the light falls, making this monochrome palette especially impressive for the depth of its color.

The jacket is shaped with a longer-than-usual length and shoulders that are relaxed in the right way, creating a silhouette that gently wraps the body. Large patch pockets and natural-finished buttons add a touch of casualness, transforming the look into something unpretentious even as a tailored jacket. The shorts, on the other hand, are designed with tucks and added ease around the waist, and their natural flare toward the hem creates a beautiful balance with the jacket.

As for the period, we estimate these were produced around 1998 to 2003, based on the absence of modern management markings such as outdated brand tags, Japanese quality-label display formats, and QR codes, as well as the material composition combining rayon and linen and the overall design approach of the collection. This aligns with the lightweight summer tailoring philosophy that Dries Van Noten continued to develop and present at the time, and it is a judgment based on integrating multiple physical factors, not design alone.

Today, DRIES VAN NOTEN has begun a new era following the retirement of the brand’s founder. However, the archive pieces that he personally designed have been gaining recognition year by year, and in particular, there are very few surviving examples of set-ups such as this on the market. As a work that reflects the brand’s philosophy strongly, you can incorporate it naturally into everyday wear while still feeling its unmistakable presence.

For styling, pairing it with a simple shirt or cut-and-sew top not only highlights the beauty of the materials, but if you combine it with a band-collar shirt and leather shoes, you can fully enjoy a distinctly DRIES VAN NOTEN mood marked by intelligence. Moreover, each piece is highly complete on its own; by styling the jacket with wide slacks and the shorts with a light bomber jacket, you can express the brand’s elegant yet genderless world even more naturally.

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity.