Dean and Dan Caten are great showmen, but as much as they love putting on extravagant events, this season they skipped Milan’s spring catwalks in favor of a video presentation. It was actually staged as a proper fashion show and filmed in an abandoned warehouse. Even if there was no audience in attendance, it was a big production and quite challenging, according to what they said at a showroom preview. “Lots of bumps and hiccups, but the great thing about technology is that you can correct mistakes. It was a great learning curve for us.” They said that they want to go back to IRL shows gradually, the world is really ready for big audiences and free to enjoy all the bells and whistles of their spectacular productions.
Called Fairytale Grunge, the collection stemmed from the idea of hanging out again. “It’s slouchy, grungy, chilly, frivolous, free, and whatever. But it’s luxe grunge,” they pointedly explained. Honestly, no reviewer can match the accuracy of their wording when it comes to describing what they do.
Playing on the tough/soft, delicate/strong dynamic they employ quite deftly, they offered plenty of smart separates—girly sheer tulle tops, shredded sequined denims for both boys and and girls, tailored jackets in lasered camouflage, shirts and blouses in micro florals, and vinyl skintight pants—which they layered with gusto in clashes of free-wheeling styling. Yet they kept the collection’s mood more sweet than mean. Boys were literally given butterly wings, extending from the back of their pretty sheer floral chemises. “Soft and tender and romantic,” said Dan. “Tinkerbells.”
