Dsquared2 at Milan 2013.

Dsquared2 "LA NOUVELLE NOIR" Men's Fall/Winter Collection Runway Show

This is my favourite fashion show yet. It is by Dsquared2, Men's Winter Collection 2013-- I really love this design concept . Its style riffs are music to me.. The theme, I think, is absolutely beautiful, "LA NOUVELLE NOIR," meaning the new black. The show featured at a Jazz cafe in Milan.

Who are Dsquared2?  Well they are two Canadian twins, designers Dean and Dan Caten. They are well known, respected designers and major celebrities have worn their clothes, such as 50 Cent , Bill Kaulitz, Lenny Kravitz , Karl Lagerfeld, Justin Timberlake, Ricky Martin, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Madonna  and many more.

I noticed Dsquared2 had used all black models to sell their concept. I really approve of this as a Black male model myself-- It is very rare you will see designers book so many Black models for a runway show, Their quality Black models were  the right medium for the designs. This show had it all. Everything that I love to wear! Style!

The fashion show was based on a World War 2 GI theme. To me it felt like, after the war is over and the troops have returned home. The show had an upbeat theme, a sense of Black is powerful. 

As a model myself I have to have an interest in fashion shows. I have viewed a lot of fashion shows and therefore have a pretty good idea of what a bad fashion show is like and what a good one is! This one was very good, it flowed, it had drama, it had story.

About a year ago when I was first introducing myself to modelling, I took part in my first fashion show. It was in Manchester and the show was based on African, ethnic styles of clothing. It was not the greatest fashion show. There were only one or two good designers. It did nothing to suggest that Africa was organised and inspirational. The show was very badly organised. It was supposed to start from 7 and finish at 10 but we did not start to rehearse till half 6.30 because the casting directors and the directors who were organising the night were very late. People need to know how much effort goes into making a show run smoothly. And to run like the DSquared2! Wow! What choreography! 

This is the first time I have seen top designers host a fashion show and only book Black models. The show made me feel good about modelling. It's been suggested by some fashion reviewers that the Black male model concept was just a publicity stunt to hide not very exciting designs. I honestly think that the Dsquared2 designs were not ordinary, they were very creative and stylish. I will sum it in three words. Different, clean, stylish.

Here are some of my favourites styles from the show...

I really like the first style, I think everything works. Really nice warm coloured shirts, precisely fitted around the neck. The brown matching braces and belt go perfectly with bag. Also I noticed every model had glasses on. I think this is a pretty cleaver idea that Dsquared2 have played with. It identifies the models with the designers' own look.

Style two is a very beautiful suit. I really love the fitting around the shoulders. Yellow ties don't often work on a suit. But here this yellow tie works really great with the strong black patterns on it. The tie also matches the scarf in the left pocket-- neat sartorial detail.

In the Dsquared2 show, I recognised two supermodels David Agbodji and Salieu Jalloh

David Agbodji

David Agbodji is a super model from New York. He has worked with all of the top designers and has been in top magazines such as as Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Vogue, Numero and loads more. 

             Salieu Jalloh

Salieu Jalloh is also a well known model in the fashion industry. He has also worked with big designers and been in top magazines such as Diesel, John Varvatos, Stone Island, Bloomingdale's, City Magazine and many more.

The show finished with the models walking out in long johns/boxes underwear and white t-shirts. Again some reviewers have seen this as a cheap beefcake climax. Not so. It was a joking tribute to the underwear of World War 2, as if to say, "Underwear was part of GI style...imagine GIs wearing these!" That was totally unexpected and a fantastic idea to finish with. There was such bravado when the models ripped off their shirts, to show ripped bodies, and casually flung their t-shirts to the audience. I hope Dsquared2 are thinking of bring out a underwear line. I want some...please