Discover the perfect Prada wardrobe for SS18
Miuccia Prada’s career in fashion has been one of unapologetic and effervescent non-conformism. True to form, her vision for this season is an exercise in the art of the unexpected, with the game-changing results we have come to expect
Elegant doesn’t necessarily mean ladylike, and nor does it require donning a pair of heels – a notion upheld by none other than Miuccia Prada. The visionary designer makes clothes to live in; they are pieces with a point of view, that say something about the woman wearing them. During her 40-year tenure as creative director of her grandfather’s iconic luxury fashion house, Miuccia has proved time and again that hers are garments you can move in, travel in, be yourself in.
Over the decades, Miuccia has pushed the boundaries of what we thought we wanted to wear, delivering everything from the banana motif and silk turban to the once-novel, now highly desirable concept of pajama dressing. This season, the unassuming pastel palette has been the focus of Prada's genius. Often dismissed as too prim and predictable, candy colors have never quite made it as cool. In the capable hands of Miuccia, however, pale mint green and baby pink have become the shades of SS18. How does the Prada woman wear them? In an irresistible confection of ruffles, pleating, sheer peek-a-boo fabrics, and flirty feather trims.
Among the standout pieces of the SS18 collection, a feather-embellished silk-twill robe is the ultimate day-to-night jacket, lending a sense of ’40s-inspired glamour to everything it’s paired with. Black wispy feathers add an instant energy to the piece, fluttering with every movement. Elsewhere in the lineup, a Belle Époque-inspired blouse cut from crisp organza is detailed with a pleated ruffled bib and iridescent mother-of-pearl buttons, underpinned by a lace-trimmed silk camisole to counter the sheerness. And there are more semi-sheer fabrics in the form of a pastel-pink skirt; cut from the lightest organza and tailored with sharp pleats to create texture and volume, it features a peachy silk-satin slip that provides coverage without detracting from its delicacy. It is this principle of balance, as Miuccia so deftly demonstrates, that is crucial to pastels looking contemporary. Temper the ultra-pretty palette and opulent details with a pair of box-fresh white sneakers for a cool – and eye-catching – contrast.
Of course, Prada still caters for the color-averse and the closet-classic purists. For SS18, the little black dress is updated in structured wool-crepe and detailed with the house’s iconic logo, which has been re-imagined as a graphic rubber patch. Team with a biker jacket and platform sneakers for a look that’s at once timeless and of-the-moment. This is elegant dressing at its most modern.