Julian Klausner and Carlijn Jacobs: Visionary Collaboration for Dries Van Noten

Covering the debut of Julian Klausner as Creative Director at Dries Van Noten marks a significant transition in the brand’s storied legacy. For the Autumn Winter 2025–2026 collection, Klausner crafts his inaugural vision with a deeply personal narrative, presenting at the iconic Palais Garnier. The creative team includes stylist Katie Burnett, renowned fashion photographer Carlijn Jacobs, hair by Olivier Schawalder at Art + Commerce, make-up by Inge Grognard, and casting by DM Casting.

Jacobs is one of the most in demand photographers on the fashion scene at the moment, capturing mesmerizing images with Rosalia for Calvin Klein, Sabrina Carpenter as the new face of Versace, striking campaign shots for Acne Studios, but also Zendaya for the covers of Vogue.

Klausner’s approach is rooted in memory and transformation. He reflects, “I present my first collection as Creative Director of Dries Van Noten with honour and excitement. Taking place at the Palais Garnier, the collection was created with the venue in mind – the stories these walls might tell and the energy of another time that fills the air.” This sense of place and history informs every aspect of the collection, channeling the grandeur and intimacy of the opera house.

Drawing on childhood memories, Klausner shares, “I first fell in love with clothes as a child through my family’s costume box. Throwing things together, feeling the textures and sensations that wearing clothes can ignite. A tight belt, a heavy coat, or a scarf wrapped a certain way could create a character crafted with affection, letting my imagination run wild.” This tactile, instinctive exploration becomes the foundation for his creative process at Dries Van Noten, emphasizing the transformative power of fashion.

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The collection imagines women moving through the opera, improvising with fabrics and objects, “tying them with a shoelace while on a quest to find the answer to an unknown question.” Klausner’s muse is found behind the curtain, in the raw energy of creation and rehearsal. “That raw, tactile discovery remains at the core of how I see fashion today. This collection is a celebration of that instinct: of transformation, of personal ritual, of the quiet yet powerful dialogue between past and future, which is at the heart of Dries Van Noten.”

The result is a collection that honors the brand’s heritage while ushering in a new era of experimentation and narrative depth. Klausner’s debut signals a bold yet respectful evolution, balancing the house’s DNA with his own vision of ritual, memory, and creative possibility.