La Belgique, C'est Chique

As promised, today I present you with another prominent figure in the world of fashion and style, who also happens to be Belgian.

Last time I talked about Dries Van Noten, today it's all about Raf Simons.

Raf Simons is one of Belgium's many fine designers, and has garnered a lot of praise and international attention over the last few years. Many know him as the creative director of Jil Sander or for his own line Raf Simons.

Simons started his education as an industrial designer, but I'm most delighted he strayed from that path. His career in fashion design has taken him to many places and he has worked with companies from backpack manufacturer Eastpak to most recently a collaboration with Fred Perry.

Whether you choose his Raf Simons, Raf by Raf Simons or Jil Sander collection, you can rest assured you'll be looking stylish, simple and sophisticated.

I put together my favourite looks from his Jil Sander and his eponymous line for Spring/Summer '09. Enjoy!

Jil Sander

Raf Simons

(images: www.men.style.com)

La Belgique, C'est Chique

Belgium is a wonderful country: great food, awesome beers and amazing chocolate. Home of the world's greatest female tennis player Justine Henin, the inventer of the saxophone Adolphe Saxe and birth country of Audrey Hepburn and Diane Von Fürstenberg.

Okay, so we have lots of trouble with the language divide and forming a government. But what i'm very proud of are our wonderful fashion designers.

Known throughout the world for their creativity and innovative designs, Belgian fashion designers (and models) are what's hot in the world of fashion.

Every now and then I will offer a closer look on a Belgian fashion designer or model.

Today I'll be talking about the renown designer Dries Van Noten.

Dries Van Noten has been described by the NY Times as 'one of fashion's most cerebral designers' and last year he won the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America's (CFDA) International Award.

Dries is known for his eccentric use of vibrant colours, prints and fabrics. A non-conformist in the world of fashion, Van Noten doesn't offer a haute couture line but solely prêt-a-porter.

Paying close attention to the touch and feel of the fabrics, his Spring/Summer 2009 collection for men is of superior sartorial quality: dandy shapes but with a quirky twist and clean lines but unusual prints.

Here are five of my favourite looks out of the collection:

(images: www.men.style.com)