There are surely a thousand-plus-ten important messages that need to get through during Pride Month this year (any year, obviously, but especially this year). Yet surely the most urgent of them all is, “Be yourself, love yourself, no matter what anyone else says or thinks.” Indeed, as trans songstress Nomi Ruiz recently told BlackBook, “Writing music saved me when the world seemed to be against me.” And surely her music has inspired so many others to believe in themselves, just as well.
Of course, like music, fashion also has a way of stating to the world that one is an individual, and is proud to not follow the crowd. And the new Dolce & Gabbana X Persol Eyewear Collection campaign seems to be celebrating exactly that. Concepted and shot by Domenico Dolce, with creative direction by Stefano Gabbana, it features Black, white, Asian and Hispanic models all rocking looks that seem unconcerned with any overriding style trends, though a taste for punk and goth does seem to be a general consensus.
Starring in the campaign are Alessandro Mezzasoma, Tom Bellini, Jo Hyun Chul, Leehom Ser, Gabriele Bonfanti and Alexis Meziani, amongst others. And what most definitely binds them together is the sheer boldness of this gorgeous new eyewear collection, which features four different styles of the classic D-frame 649 model. Intriguingly, though the rest is a bit difficult to make out, one of the models shows off a hand with the word “pathos” tattooed on the pointing finger – though seriously, no one really looks like they’re being sad in this campaign.
Most of all, it’s an exaltation of who we are, who we love, and why no one can ever take away our fierce individuality. At such a time of bitter socio-political divisiveness as this, we couldn’t think of a better message with which to celebrate Pride.
The Dolce & Gabbana X Persol Eyewear Collection is available online and in select boutiques around the globe.
