MFW: Dsquared gets campy for Spring/Summer 2010

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The show invite arrives at the hotel stitched to a fire-engine red bucket hat. The beefcake model at the door is handing out cards drenched in a new fragrance called ‘Wood’ (it’s, um, woody). And the event -- which unspools along a wooden dock so old school it could’ve been ripped from the shores of Lake Champlain -- somehow ends up being simulcast on Sirius radio.

No, it’s not a fever dream sparked by too many absinthe-tinged Champagne cocktails. It’s just the Spring/Summer 2010 runway show by the Canadian twins Dan and Dean Caten, who seem to have perfected the performance art aspect of the runway show.

Dubbed the ‘Summer Camp Collection,’ it opened and closed with buff boys gathered around a campfire, surrounded by imposing faux redwoods. In between, it was a stylish day hike through the traditions of summer: bold colors (including bright yellow and an eye-catching blue camouflage print) paired with khakis, browns and other earth tones. There were nods to scouting uniforms, plaids, sun-bleached T-shirts (weathering, especially sun-bleach effects, was a season trendlet), and cargo shorts (another trend that appeared everywhere -- including Armani).

The collection included distressed jeans, weatherproof rain ponchos, camo blazers and plaid patterns plastered on shorts, shirts and car coats, the way only Dsquared could do it.

The perfect over-the-top touch? A pair of white, barely there swim trunks with a parade of metallic ants marching in formation across the crotch. Try not to stare at THAT.

If nothing else, the brothers Caten definitely deserve the Milan Fashion Week merit badge for fun.

-- Adam Tschorn in Milan