1) Romance Isn’t Dead
The title of Miuccia Prada’s AW19 collection was the Anatomy of Romance. ‘Anatomy’ is about right when you consider that this wasn’t a typical take on ‘saccharine sweet’ love. This was romance broken down into its constituent parts (roses, red, pink, and sweetheart necklines), then thrown together again. It was a little ‘off’ as Prada is usually is (where’s the fun in cookie-cutter courting?).
‘The romance of life excites me,’ Miuccia Prada told Business of Fashion before the show. Us too, when it comes in the form of intricate lace capes, 3D floral embroidered pouches, and lacquered rose print skirts.
But while Snow White’s ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ played, between the X Files score and Marilyn Manson, and flowers wilted, falling loose on the side of handbags, you couldn’t help by think that this was Mrs. Prada’s point: Romance ain’t dead. But, in this political climate, love is?
2) She Did The Monster Mash
… and it was a Graveyard smash hit. Picking up where she left off, referencing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in the menswear and Pre-Fall collections shown last month, a bolt-necked Boris Karloff appeared on slips and shirts in this one.
You couldn’t help but feel you were on the set of the 1931 Frankenstein film with buzzy filament-bulbs flanking the runway, and lightning-strike prints on sweaters.
Also on the runway: Bride of Frankenstein, and Wednesday Addams, grown up, in Dennis the Menace stripes and pigtails. Pretty sure we spotted Thora Birch, as the lead of 2001 film Ghost World, in a neon skirt too…
3) Military On The Mind
‘Fear is all around us. I really feel that,’ said Miuccia Prada backstage at the show, referring to the very-real threat of conflict between the US, and, well, everyone. That’s why Mrs. Prada’s twisted romance was peppered with military inspired looks (as seen on Gigi Hadid).
Don’t let it be said that fashion shouts into an echo chamber. But Mrs. P is aware of the challenges of entangling serious topics with surface. ‘There's a request from the industry to talk about these subjects,’ she said, ‘but it's problematic, because it's difficult to find a way that's intelligent but not too political, as [for the customers], I want the clothes to still be desirable.’
So Gigi et al walked the runway in the Prada classics: khaki nylon co-ords, with bright (faux) fur trapper hats.
If you’re worried you can’t wear both hats, broaching the political and ‘pretty’, you don’t have to choose. Miuccia Prada proves you can nod to each, and engage in conversation about what scares us.
4) Cara’s Back On The Catwalk
With Her Smell, starring Amber Heard and Elisabeth Moss, coming out in April, Cara Delevingne's ditched the runway for Hollywood. Until now, with her catwalk debut for Prada.
Cara wasn’t alone, walking with Binx Walton, Gigi (does she even need a surname?), and Kaia Gerber, uniform with bleached brows and middle partings.
As to whether or not we’ll be trying that brow look… we’ll get back to you on that.
5) No One Will Hear You Coming [in Prada’s AW19 Boots]
Jeepers creepers, you’ll give anyone a fright walking up behind them in Prada’s AW19 boots. Models stalked Prada’s metal grate runway in chunky lug sole boots, with the same foamy striations as the surrounding shock-proof floor.
You’ll give passersby less of a scare in those square toe (dare we say ‘platypus beak’) satin heels though.
