Prada, SS12, Milan.
Miuccia Prada has a knack for combining disparate elements to create collections that are filled with a playful variety of textures, techniques and colours. While the overall mood of a Prada collection can come across as naive and whimsical, the approach to the design of the collection is obviously anything but flippant.
With references to 1950s car culture, the collection could have easily strayed into a novelty kitsch territory, but sheer attention to detail is what makes the Prada collections so desirable. The flames that are thrown up the borders of skirts, or embedded into pleated dresses, for example, are in sophisticated colour combinations, offset with unexpected highlight colours through piping and embroidery. And the accessories including tiny chrome tail lights on the heels of shoes, or tonal appliques on handbags were always perfectly executed, down to the “Prada” number plates.
There was an interesting transition of some of the details from the Menswear collection as well with piping and retro prints making a reappearance. There was also the reuse of brightly coloured gemstones, this time appearing to take the place of studs on bomber jacket styles.
It’s also interesting to note how the hint of tummy has been done in the most modest way possible, keeping the skirts long and high waisted, with only a strip of toned skin beginning to be exposed. As designers tend to focus attention on different areas of the body in a fairly cyclical way, this is obviously a more chic way of unveiling a bit more flesh rather than going for the full length stomach exposure.
Images from Vogue.co.uk»
