Canadian actor Hudson Williams made his runway debut by opening Dsquared2’s Fall 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week, a calculated casting that fused pop culture momentum, winter sports aesthetics and Olympic timing into one high-impact fashion statement.
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| 🎭 Runway debut: Hudson Williams opens his first fashion show for DSQUARED2 ❄️ Theme: Winter sports and après-ski inspired by the 2026 Olympics 📍 Location: Milan Fashion Week, ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 🧥 Key pieces: Oversized puffers, crystal embellishments, hybrid ski-Western boots 🤝 Collaboration: DSQUARED2 x Carrera convertible ski goggles 👗 Womenswear: Sculptural puffers, corsetry, futuristic ski silhouette |
Williams rose from relative obscurity to international recognition within weeks after Crave’s Heated Rivalry became an unexpected cultural phenomenon, echoing Dsquared2’s streetwise energy. The series follows two professional hockey players navigating rivalry and romance, with Williams portraying one half of that equation. His casting in the Dsquared2 Fall 2026 collection marked his first runway appearance. With the Caten brothers having built a brand built on spectacle and provocation, the Canadian actor walking for Canadian designers seemed less like a coincidence and more like a calculated move.
In February, Milan will host the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Cortina d’Ampezzo, just weeks away. Dsquared2 capitalized on this proximity with a collection centered on winter sports aesthetics. Williams opened the show by descending a frost-covered staircase within a fabricated snowy forest. He also closed the show, bookending the presentation before Dean and Dan Caten took their bows, hoisted on the shoulders of two models wearing hockey jerseys.
The Dsquared2 Fall 2026 collection debuted at a time when Williams’s visibility was at its peak. Tennis champion Coco Gauff publicly declared herself “their number one fan” and invited Williams and her partner, Connor Storrie, to her Australian Open match. Jimmy Fallon nominated Williams to host Saturday Night Live. Williams appeared as a guest star on CBS’s Tracker. Fashion houses have been competing for any association with the show’s stars.
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The Caten brothers returned to familiar territory with this collection, reaffirming their rebellious approach to menswear. Oversized puffer jackets dominated the runway, presented in color-blocked arrangements and covered in crystal embellishments. Transparent sequins coated denim separates, creating an iced effect that reinforced the winter theme without relying on obvious symbolism. Drawing from 1970s ski culture, the designers reinterpreted that era with intarsia sweaters and zippered cardigans adorned with snowboarders, skiers, and gold medals.
Padded nylon overpants were paired with hybrid footwear that combined the squared toe of cowboy boots with ski boot silhouettes. Shearling and oversized fur coats provided volume and texture. Accessories were particularly strong in the menswear collection, featuring two-in-one Western boots with detachable covers that nodded to ski boots. Dsquared2 collaborated with Carrera to develop ski goggles that convert into everyday sunglasses.
The women’s presentations took a different approach. Puffer jackets featured oversized bows and fur collars. Corsets and minidresses were made from disassembled jacket parts. Puffy outerwear was covered in crystal cascades, and low-slung jeans received sequin treatments for added shimmer. The designers reworked latex ski suits with plunging necklines and tops with tapering fronts that revealed the hips.
Protective gear amplified the corseted effect of minidresses made from stacked puffers. Ski boots were reimagined as sculptural, heel-less designs with futuristic, cyberpunk-inspired proportions. The finale pieces demonstrated how far the Catens were willing to take the après-ski concept into theatrical territory.
