Prada S/S´24

In a mesmerising fashion spectacle, the renowned design duo of Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons unveiled their extraordinary Spring / Summer 2024 women's collection on the Prada runway in Milan. This captivating presentation showcased some of the most exquisite dresses to grace the fashion world, with shifts in delicate shades of pale blue, green, and pink silk gazar, adorned with layers of superfine organza that billowed gracefully like ethereal vapor in their wake. The designers embarked on a creative journey, aiming to craft a collection centered around the themes of lightness and fluidity—a pursuit of capturing the essence of material that defies solidity. Simons, speaking backstage, drew attention to the georgette fabric fragments, fringe details, and intricate embroidery that pervaded the collection. Notably, they also reintroduced the iconic slime element from their men's show in June, allowing curtains of translucent pink goo to cascade onto the runway, a surprising addition that remarkably enhanced the overall presentation.

  

Rather than undermining the collection, this audacious choice complemented it, as the designers fearlessly juxtaposed diverse materials and genres with artistic flair. Devotees of the Prada brand will find cause for celebration in this season's return to decoration. The runway dazzled with fringed flapper dresses and the brand's signature cardigan sweaters, adorned with abstract crystal sprays and silver eyelets, seamlessly blending vintage allure with a futuristic industrial-feminine aesthetic that pervaded the entire collection. Notably, standout pieces included printed fringe shirts and fringe belts reminiscent of jewellery, worn as skirts or layered over shorts. Injecting an element of rugged street chic, the collection seamlessly incorporated workwear elements, featuring distressed leather cargo vests and jackets that could be seen as haute couture counterparts to utilitarian Carhartt.

The tailoring on display is poised to resonate with the younger generations, including Gen Z, with its masculine, structured-shoulder blazers that effortlessly pair with belted high-waisted shorts or pleated pants, all finished off with commanding footwear choices. Prada and Simons showcased their artistry by seamlessly melding both raw and refined materials, ranging from sumptuous leather to delicate organza, from sparkling crystals to sturdy hardware.

´In a mesmerising symphony of elegance and eccentricity, Prada's Spring 2024 collection captivates with its ethereal designs, seamlessly marrying vintage allure with futuristic innovation.´ - Charles Daniel McDonald

In a nod to decades past, the collection intertwined references from the 1920s, 1930s, 1980s, and 1990s, bridging generational divides. A poignant tribute to the brand's patriarch, Mario Prada, was evident in the revival of a bag design he created in 1913, featuring a "mythological face" as an ornamental clasp.

Miuccia Prada reflected on her grandfather's eccentricity, describing how he melded cultures and sourced materials from diverse corners of the globe, including English silver, Austrian crystal, Asian silks, and leathers, ultimately fashioning them into composite objects such as vanity cases, calendars, and travel bags sold at his shop. This spirit of inventiveness continues to define the Prada brand, constantly pushing boundaries and offering fashion enthusiasts a tantalising glimpse of the extraordinary. In the world of Prada, where elegance meets eccentricity, this latest collection stands as a delightful testament to their artistic prowess, perpetually leaving us in awe of what lies just beyond our reach.