WHO cooler to shoot Dsquared2‘s SS24 campaign than Nadia Lee Cohen? Working alongside Dsquared2’s Dean and Dan Caten, it’s no wonder the latest campaign shows Dsquared2 in its most provocative glory.
For a summer like no other, 2000s legend Bosnian-Serb model Nataša Vojnović and actor Tony Ward – known for his most famous film Hustler White, which arguably defined homoeroticism and Los Angeles hustler culture during the 1980s – paired up to act as Dsquared2’s adult stars amongst the deliberately visible clumsiness of a 1990s-like film set, including the lights, crew, and even random strays in the campaign.
With Haley Wollens leading the styling, each look is a testament to both her signature unpredictable, mismatched aesthetic, and Dsquared2’s gorgeously vibrant, playful spring/summer collection.
Vojnović, alongside the other models present, wear the latest season’s most eye-catching pieces, including the iconic pearl bra-top. Ward appears as the perfect 1990s porn star with Dsquared2 shades, a double-layered lemon-yellow jumper, and bejewelled starfish cut-out jeans.
Speaking on the campaign, Cohen said: “Sprawling vastly behind the hills of Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley was the home and birthing ground of the booming porn industry in the 1990s. I have always been fascinated by the rise and fall of this period and for the SS24 Campaign I wanted to create something that conceptually replicated this era, D2 being the perfect collaborators, as they already hold such a legacy for provocative, exciting campaigns.
Authenticity was key – we intentionally gave the actors their lines only on the morning of the shoot – that’s how it would have happened on an adult set in the 90s. This of course resulted in clunky, deadpan delivery and numerous mistakes, which, to me, only made the whole thing all the more charming.”
The campaign truly shows off the brand’s tongue-in-cheek attitude and ability to push fashion freedom to exciting heights. Released as a series of videos and Polaroid-esq images, the campaign’s energy is entirely promiscuous and even nostalgically camp in its retro visuals and clunky dialogue.
Chaos runs through each offering like icing on a cake – and we are here for every slice.
by Madeleine Ringer