GEORGIE’S REVIEW: PRADA SS21
Wed 15 Jul
The world was poised at a computer today as Prada broadcast their first ‘phygital’ show for S/S 21. Entitled ‘The Show That Never Happened’ the presentation was split into chapters, each directed by a different global creative, showing the Prada-world through multiple views. Willy Vandeperre, Juergen Teller, Joanna Piotrowska, Martine Syms and Terence Nance all captured a facet of the Prada collection, their differing vantages illustrating this idea of multiplicity, of which the collection was inspired.
Mrs. Prada had been avoiding colour this season. Save for the pop of Linea Rossa red or a light floral here and there, this collection was predominantly black, grey, beige and white. Brilliant, because it drew a clean focus to the beautiful silhouettes and cuts, but also because it unified the disparate chapters and visions of the aforementioned creatives.
The garments were, well, nigh on perfect. 50s shirt dresses that tied at the waist with full skirt and sweet ballet pump or Mary Jane – just wonderful. Bateau-neck nylon jackets, empire-line strapless full black dresses, leather blazer and cross-skirt, crisp shirts and sharp-lines... I could go on. Raf Simons won’t be joining at the helm till September, but there were certainly echoes of his outerwear and aesthetic here too. It was the best of the past with the future in mind.
Despite the film chapters’ completely different visions, they are connected, like a community united through ideas, goals and beliefs. It’s splendid; from the casting, to the brutalist undertone, to Miuccia’s bow at the end. This is Miuccia’s last solo show, so let’s bask in the glow of this gratifying experience.