DSQUARED2
Counting Madge, Britney and Xtina as fans, brothers Dean and Dan Caten win our Style Award
The Caten twins personify quality and dynamism— in their designs and in what they take a stand for. Their brand, Dsquared2, celebrates who you are. It’s no wonder they are the winners of the Attitude Style Award
After studying at the famous Parsons School of Design, twins Dean and Dan Caten went on to work at Versace and Diesel before cultivating their own brand, Dsquared2, in 1995.
The Canadian duo have always had a fl are for performance, so it’s no surprise that after 23 years in business, they’ve worked with a slew of pop’s top acts, creating outfi ts with edge. Take Madonna for instance: Dean and Dan worked with Madge on her 2001 Drowned World tour and the rodeo- themed Don’t Tell Me video. Moving from the queen of pop, to the princess, the Catens were also responsible for Britney’s ringleader jacket and top- hat outfi t on her 2009 Circus tour.
With experience working closely with those who entertain for a living, Dean and Dan have been able to take what they’ve learnt and incorporate it into their own fashion shows. Fun, frivolous, fantastical and, of course, fashionable, Dsquared2 runway displays are never short of the spectacular. Take Naomi Campbell, who, in the early Noughties, dashed down the catwalk towards a private jet, before turning on her heels and strutting like only Naomi can. Or Christina Aguilera at Milan Fashion Week 2004, who stripped male models to their underwear before sashaying down the runway herself ( all to the soundtrack of Stripped, of course).
Even when there’s not a celebrity in sight, Dsquared2 gives a performance, such as male models taking a shower in a waterfall before hulking down the runway for a camping- themed collection.
Dean and Dan’s shows are an extension of their personalities: as well as being exceptional and highly regarded designers, they’re incredibly warm, generous, kind and free- spirited, and their collections are evidence of the joy, talent and hard work that goes into creating them each season.
This year’s spring- summer collection is testament to how they’re constantly evolving as designers, playing with diff erent materials and taking cues from fashion trends of previous decades.
Parachute silk materials were mixed with Nineties tracksuits, jacquards and beautiful hologram materials, giving plenty for the eye to feast upon.
And that’s without even mentioning some insane rainbow platform shoes that took us back to Spice Girls territory and demonstrate the brand’s business savvy
— post- show Instagram feeds were lit up with images of them.
Recently, they’ve introduced a collection of items adorned simply with the word
“icon”, which people have fl ocked to buy. Simple, yes, but eff ective and, most importantly, desired by consumers. Time and time again, Dean and Dan have shown they have a knack for knowing exactly what people want.
The brothers have also never shied away from their sexuality, incorporating elements of what might traditionally be viewed as feminine into their menswear. In the past, they’ve sent their male models down the catwalk in glittery high heels, they’ve presented hyper- masculine collections that even Tom of Finland would be proud of, serving rugged lumberjack looks and leather daddy realness. The autumn- winter ’ 18 collection is all about rhinestone cowboys, with plenty of camp: sequins, leather fl ower embellishments and gemstones galore — a masterclass in blurring the lines between masculine and feminine. And on Father’s