Dsquared² Men's Spring/Summer 2012,

Like those evolutionary ladders of walking man-monkeys, Dsquared² shows increasingly seem to follow the progression and scope of Ralph Lauren which start with outdoorsy/sports wear, make their way up to WASP prep and then finally onto Saville Row ritz. Of course, Dsquared² do not have the countless labels that Ralph has under his name (RLL, Polo, Black label, Purple label, etc.), but there does appear to be  a similar sensibility.

                                                 All images from GQ.com, copyright Conde Nast

-The Scandal

Dsquared² Fall/Winter 2012

Well, if there was any doubt that Johnny Depp is a style icon,

D Squared 's most recent collection trotted out a series of models wearing Depp's trade-mark fedora and glasses. Go Johnny Go.

Oh yeah--there were some nicely tailored  overcoats and interesting riding gauntlets (to bring out your inner General Custard).


 -The Scandal

DSquared - Spring/Summer 2011

Overview: Dean and Dan will give Tom Ford a run for his money with these retro-inspired , uber-dashing looks. Though the collection looks great, I have the strange feeling that I've seen these looks before (80's-style tie bars from Gucci and Ralph Lauren, preppy suit/tie ensembles from Michael Bastian, and flared hems from YSL Rice gauche). Well, if they've borrowed, they've done so from the right people and the results are very, very good.

p.s. DSquared's trade-mark i-just-shat-my-pants low hanging jeans were replaced at the other extreme with high waisted "mom-jeans".

Rating: ***


Highlights: retro 70's 80's silouhettes

Lowlights: Mom jeans

-The Scandal

Dsquared² Fall/Winter 2010 Men's

Ah, who better than Stylemounties to dissect a show dealing with fashion AND hockey?
OK, aside from Sean Avery?

You'd think the NHL would applaud  a fashion homage to hockey, right? Wrong! All models were covered with blood spatter stains, and twin designers Dean and Dan Caten  came out at the end of the show  with blood spattered hospital gowns .  Hardly the image the League wishes to portray.

I'm not sure whether the blood has more to do with Jason from "Friday the 13th" than it does the NHL...

The hockey shtick may not have been the most surprising aspect of the show.  The brand seemed to take a step in a new direction with slim-fitting clothes in black and white monotones. Dsquared² known for "Abercrombie chic" looked more like Dior (black/white) and Rick Owens (Mad Max gear)

 

-The Scandal

Fall 2009 Men's Dsquared²

In watching the show, a friend of mine remarked that felt that she had "seen it before". I suppose that may not necessarily be a bad thing i.e. that DSquared has developed a distinctive, signature look. The show was heavy on Putting-on-the-Ritz style glamour, mixed in equal parts with the abercrombie flavour that has made these local guys famous.

DSquared (men's) is available at a bunch of boutiques in Canada, though the collection usually consists of a couple tuxedo jackets and $700 plain cotton sweatshirts.

-The Scandal