While waiting for the Miu Miu show to start, perched on our round stools, surrounded by a pretty snazzy wallpaper, a couple of us were talking about how many designers this season seem to be offering a seemingly endless supply of 'pieces' in the hope that a customer walking into any of their worldwide stores might just find something to buy. We called it 'ticking off the merchandise list'. Nothing wrong with that per se but it hardly sets the heart racing. So, leave it to Mrs Prada to send out a sharply edited and focused collection with a few thought-out suggestions for what you could wear next season and how. She's a busy woman, Miuccia, and she understands you are too. The wallpaper alluded to a general idea of the home as a starting point but nothing is that straightforward chez Prada. Talking Heads on the soundtrack, Once in a Lifetime and Burning Down the House, acted as a warning. 'You might find yourself...'
Let's start with the coats. Colourful, glossy and big they came in patent croc and snakeskin or large checks, and right when you thought you'd found the one for you another came along. The patent leather theme continued elsewhere as detailing - as a stripe running down an A-line high-waist wrap skirt or a little ruffle across the hips, a big collar on a coat or contrasting pockets on another. Coats done. Alongside those A-line skirts Miuccia also showed some mini patent leather ones or some in a marble-like animal print and she tucked pretty ruffled striped shirts in them and then squeezed a little puffy-sleeved knit over them. Pinafore style yellow, red and green tweed and animal print dresses had big buttons and bare backs. Towards the end she showed some ruffled shirt-dresses, strewn with sequins, that were so sweet and pretty you knew something sinister was at play. ‘You might find yourself with a beautiful wife.’ You might find yourself being someone's beautiful wife.
As we were exiting, I overheard someone complain this was the worst show they'd ever seen because, why, look at the wallpaper on the walls! You may sit through an entire month of shows and still walk away having learnt nothing, friends. Till next time, then.
