AW03 Bondage Jeans

Grey denim wrapped in buckled straps, from the season Dolce & Gabbana went dark.

Dolce & Gabbana's Autumn/Winter 2003 menswear broke from the label's usual polished, sexy tailoring. It was gritty and military, inspired by techno culture and a tense political mood. The bondage denim was one of the collection's key pieces, and this pair shows why.

The jeans are washed grey denim with yellow topstitching, kept simple on purpose so the straps do the work. Sage-green cotton webbing runs down from the waistband in front, crosses diagonally over the thighs, and drops down the outer legs. Straps wrap around each knee, and the hems finish with more straps and metal O-rings. The hardware is bronze-toned throughout, with metal buckles on the front and sides and D-rings on the legs. The back is clean, with plain pockets and a brass crest plate on a brown leather patch at the waist.