June 28, 2006

When and if Dean and Dan Caten tire of fashion, they have a career waiting as the Ziegfelds of male burlesque. Their latest show was a nonstop parade of abs and buns of steel. Speedo-clad himbos stripped, showered, toweled off, and eventually sauntered down the catwalk to show off the Catens' all-sorts-of-sportswear. The clothes touched on yachting, swimming, boxing, and track 'n' field (though the raspberry sweats were made of kidskin leather, which might limit their practical application).

What's more, all that was just half the story, because the Catens also had the competitive environment of the boardroom in mind. Inevitably, this made their runway an entirely schizophrenic place. Where one young exhibitionist was busy adjusting his shorts, another fine specimen was heading off for Wall Street in a sharp suit, striped shirt, and brown suede oxfords.

Of course, there's nothing accidental about this yin and yang—Dean and Dan clearly believe it's smart business to diversify—but you can't help feeling that the restrained side of their personalities is the more interesting one. For proof of that, you only needed to look to the jacket in Prince of Wales check worn with full white shorts and purple suede loafers. So what if it didn't flaunt a fabulous physique? It was pretty hot all the same.

— Tim Blanks