Oftentimes, clothing doesn’t define one’s character. Rather, it serves as a reflection of who a person really is, like a personality trait. Few understand this better than Steven Meisel, one of fashion’s greatest and most culturally literate photographers. The relationship between an outfit, a personality, and, thus, an identity has been a subject of exploration for Dolce & Gabbana since its foundation. In their latest campaign, the meeting of these identities is photographed by Meisel himself.

Through two collections, one intended for men and the other for women, Meisel frames many longstanding codes of Dolce & Gabbana in a contemporary perspective. For women, Mediterranean elegance is emphasized with signature black lace, welcoming both the fashion house’s presence and the wearer’s character. Throughout the men’s collection, Meisel portrays a modern masculinity. Bold garments and bright lighting presume a playfulness buried beneath the inherent sensuality of the campaigns production.

Feelings of attraction and relation mingle among the photographs. Frilled jackets evoke a peacock seeking a mate, and sleek tailoring highlights the wearer’s body. The natural and artificial mesh and blend as the relationships portrayed are interpreted, and the collection progresses. Though the collections are separate, they act as complementary ensembles in an ongoing dialogue about femininity and masculinity.