The much anticipated Prada Fall/Winter 2021 Collection by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons was shared with a livestream presentation today and an experience that felt intimate and exciting. The collection was inspired by the idea of change and transformation, an opening of possibilities as our world shifts, hopefully allowing for travel and living more as we once did.
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons continued to design around the theme of the nature of humanity and a belief that men and women each hold the duality of masculine and feminine within themselves. And so the collection plays on opposites, simplicity and complexity, elegance and practicality, and limitation and release.
How did that translate into the clothing and the bags? There was an emphasis on the body which means garments that had a softness and inherent ease to them. Each look was full of life and movement, with layers, pleats and gathers which brought the dresses to life. Materials used included everything from re-nylon and jacquard to faux fur and sequins.
There are three shapes that reign supreme for the bags, starting with a familiar shape. The Prada Cleo returns in a larger, new maxi version in spazzolato leather (brushed calfskin) and is also reinterpreted in jacquard knit with a leather shoulder strap. The sleekness of this shape makes it an easy carry and the larger size will offer more space for daily use for those of us who carry more. There is also a new line of shopping bags in two sizes, featuring peluche (which translates to plush and is faux fur). The bag I am most excited for is the new shoulder bag with a triangular zip closure flap in either nappa leather, jacquard knit, or sequins. The models effortlessly carried this bag under the arm in bright, bold hues which was a statement piece on the runway.
You’ll see the pairing of gloves, a long and snug option with a mini triangle pocket on the back of the right hand along with a short glove in smooth nappa leather with 3 pockets: triangular, rectangular and round. The Prada Logo earrings made a return in new colors along with hoops with the logo triangle pendant made of silver with enamel. The shoes were all about making a fashion statement, from lace up platform boots with nappa leather and two-toned stretch nappa leather boots to platform knitted boots and sequin booties.
Another interesting aspect was the set. Seem familiar? Parts of the set were taken from Prada’s Men FW21 set, and the materials utilized will then be up-cycled, giving them new life after the show. Product installations and pop-ups around the world will use different parts of the set and afterwards Meta, a circular economy project based out of Milan which offers sustainable solutions to waste disposal, will collect the items and make them available to professionals and students in the cultural sector.
[Images via Prada]
I really love that purple triangle flap bag!
I can’t wait to see these triangle flap top bags in person!!
Color blocking is a mood. Calling it for the next seasons to come.
Im oddly fascinated with theses gloves… they are so weird that I love them? Kind of like the saddle bag!
They are just plain odd, but in a fascinating “what would I put in the compartment of the gloves” and “I would never buy these, or would I” kind of way. ?
The blue and turquoise bags are the bomb!
I’m wondering why all these huge bags?? I thought the teeny bags were still in.
teeny bags are still in, but large bags were never out imo. Prada released a ton of minimalist teeny bags for their holiday and ss21 shaped like hearts/circles/triangles, so maybe they want to switch it up.
This looks really awesome and true to Prada.
Larger bags for when we can leave the house again… for a whole day(!)… and need baby steps to re-learn how to NOT pack the kitchen sink!
I know right?! Man, can’t wait to load up a bag for longer days out!
Larger bags, for when we can leave the house again. For a whole day (!), and need baby steps to re-learn how to leave the kitchen sink at home. In the kitchen.