For the first time ever, Prada held an exclusive show at Fondazione Prada’s Observatory in Milan.
Designer Miuccia Prada has had a reputation for blurring boundaries between what is considered art and fashion. Thus, it’s fitting that her first stand-alone cruise collection was held in the Osservatorio photography gallery underneath the glass and iron domes of one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Where, if you feel like a little historical trivia, Prada opened its first store in 1913. The show was held on a rainy Sunday, before the opening parties for the Venice Biennale. A total of 80 guests attended, dressed head-to-toe in Prada, including notables like Bianca Jagger, Courtney Love and Sudan Sarandon.
Always artistic and conceptual, Miuccia Prada leaves nothing to chance and experimentation. Instead, she draws inspiration from reality and the world around her. What’s most eye-catching about Miuccia Prada’s stand-alone collection, is that its whimsically feminine and actively resists labels and fashion genres. Her approach to her collection and exhibition is artistic as it is analytical.
She said to New York Times, she doesn’t wish her exhibition as an annual fixture of the gallery and “(doesn’t) like the word cruise, or resort, or any of these types of descriptions… a (fashion) show should just be a show,”
The 2018 Cruise collection consisted a plethora of pastel coloured transparent dresses, feathers and crystal sequin detailing. Models walked down the runway in braids with the Prada Logo stamped on their ankles, hems and hipbones. The cruise collection also included collaborated art and liberty prints from illustrator James Jean as well as several variations of shirt dresses, scallop shirts, embroidered petticoats and pleated skirts paired with high neck tops.
The feminine range contrasted the overall industrial setting of the exhibition space. The venue itself was unique. Not only was the exhibition sparse and industrial in appearance, the show revolved around two floors that circled the central arcade. As the show went underway, Miuccia Prada aimed for a perfect combination of the modernist, lightness and the industrial and she doesn’t stop there. Models wore juxtaposing pieces as they walked through linear arranged seats, folding mirrors and pastel columns. Waterproof jackets were paired with technical material based mini-skirts and athletic sneakers complimented preppy knee socks.
Despite a show with very feminine clothing, Miuccia Prada transforms the contemporary and sportswear into elegance in her solo collection. She makes sports elegant and vice versa.
According to Miuccia Prada her collection emphasises her “likeness for the transparency at the moment…the naked body. (Transparency and sportswear) both are interested in the body”. – nytimes
Hey, who knew there were similarities to floating pastel shirts and athletic wear!
After the show, festivities moved across town to the Fondazione Prada contemporary art complex where guests watched a show opening of Italian artist and filmmaker Francesco Vezzoli. Despite the absence of sun and the rainy skies, it didn’t deter guests from enjoying Prada’s exclusive runway event. We can’t wait until Prada’s cruise collection hits the stores!
