show is ne'er to be missed. The poignant AW16 menswear collection shown in January was laden with heavy references to themes like immigration and featured quite a few womenswear looks smattered in as previews.
(praise hands emoji) also collaborated on a dedicated photo series dubbed ‘dis-dressed’ to show some of the magnificent detailing you might have missed during the show.
So yesterday evening, Milan fashion week revelers pressed and steamed their finery and edges to witness the full unveiling of the AW16 Prada womenswear show. As did yours truly, but my experience was more by proxy - as in I watched it go down online. Anyone who has ever let out a fashion gasp has done so at the sight of one of Prada's
colleziones
and people had their mouths ajar and lungs ready to inhale last night. But Mamma came to teach, not dazzle.
Continuing on what was shown during menswear, Prada gave us an intransigent woman-in-transit who does not hold back on layering whether it’s done with clothing or symbolism. A white nautical cap here and there might be construed as something the Prada woman swiped from an undeserving sailor and the gilded little books hanging from her neck inspired a nosy what’s-in-my-sister’s-diary-hand-me-a-bobbypin moment. Coats and capes were often regal and militaristic but slightly weathered-looking, corsets were undone and belts were layered, the shoes ranged from delicate satin strappy sandals to clunky hiking boots and re-imaginations of the Scottish ghillie. The prints were all done by Christophe Chemin.
A Prada-delivered message is never cut and dry, but according to Miss Miuccia this “vagabond” collection (a term that is giving me too much Zoolander) is a medley of women’s pain and beauty throughout history. Also, 'the bags shown are on sale right after the show'. After a year of slumping sales, this covetable collection features all the steam needed to pick up the argyle-trimmed slack. It also now seems the age-old adage ‘leggings are not pants’ has begrudgingly gained the appendix ‘unless they Prada though'. Oh, the impact.
