When still living in Toronto, Dean and Dan Caten enjoyed vintage shopping at the city’s Kensington Market. “We went there to get our Saturday night look,” they said. Going down memory lane, pre-fall was an ode to the thrift-store-hunting wardrobe of their youth, which they rendered into a “fucked up mix, but with a chic attitude,” as per their rather matter-of-fact description.
For both girls and guys, the thrift repertoire was explored far and wide; the Catens wanted the collection to read as a sort of wishlist of the best finds from the ’60s through the ’80s, rendered into must-have pieces infused with Dsquared2 cool. They were put together with just as much attitude “There’s not really a logic, it’s more about I love this, I love that, I found that, creating a smart look with the best finds.”
On the wishlist for her, disco queen sequined minidresses and bellbottoms, floating Stevie Nicks numbers, distressed stone-washed denims studded with crystal stars, and leopard-printed onesies sat alongside camouflage bikers and cargos, ‘80s tracksuits in slinky fabrics, classic-cut peacoats, and little boxy tweed jackets. “It’s definitely more cute than in-your-face sexy,” they said. The look’s toughening up came courtesy of sturdy black cowboy boots, often extended up to the thigh.
The men’s wardrobe mixed retro-tinged athletic wear, Americana outdoor, and workwear classics— varsity jackets, aviator shearlings, rugged field jackets, military greatcoats, mechanic jumpsuits—with looks inspired by Rod Stewart’s rock-and-roll glam. Leopard printed blazers, slightly wrong-sized satin-lapeled tuxedos, sparkle-finished distressed denims, and sheer chiffon blouses added zest to the outdoorsy pieces that are Dsquared2 trademarks. But why this fascination with vintage finds? “It’s one-of-a-kind, it’s got a story, culture, personality,” they replied. “And it was probably made much better than anything made today.”
