|
Prada: Money in the Bank
By Godfrey Deeny
Photos by: Gruber-FWD
MILAN, Mar 3, 2002/ FWD/ --- Any doubts about Prada's plans to go on the stock market
should have been buried Friday, when the house staged its most commercial - and sexually
charged - collection in many seasons.
Prada, a house that rarely uses top models, packed them onto the catwalk with this show,
opening with Eva Herzigova and Helena Christensen and including Michelle Hicks, Jacquetta
Wheeler and Erin O'Connor.
Having second thoughts about the flotation price, Mr. Banker?
Then check out Eva in a skimpy dress of silk and chain mail.
Not so sure about the medium-term prospects, Mr. Analyst?
Then have a look at Isabelli in a satin slip fit for the finest boudoir.
After weeks of being rocked by rumors of weak sales, possible sell-offs and doubts about
the commercialness of its beautiful new Soho flagship "department store," Miuccia hit back
in the one sure way she knows how - a powerful, modern and relevant collection.
That's not to suggest that Miuccia made this collection for the IPO.
You could see from her beaming smile and the sequined rose skirt she wore that the lady is
in an optimistic mood these days.
But one thing's for sure - these clothes are going to do great business.
Was it the New York Times that actually had the temerity to write that Prada was somehow over?
Well, wake up and smell the coffee, Gray Lady!
The collection also broke radically new ground with its choice of materials.
Prada used to be synonymous with nylon; make that chain mail now.
Remember that Prada always stood for intellectual fashion; well, this season it screamed out
sex, and even - can you believe it - a little S&M.
And, just as well PETA wasn't in town, the show practically grew a pelt.
Eva opened the action strutting out in a bomber jacket with black mink collar and sleeves
over nylon torso, followed by Helena in a hooded dude-girl version of the same look.
Erin came next with the coolest midnight-blue silk blouse with puff shoulders, whose prim
air was sexed up with crocodile thigh-high boots.
A slew of brainy, high-waisted tweed skirts followed, each time subverted, however, by a
large transparent raincoat with orange seam, or a sporty bomber jacket.
Themes from recent seasons also reappeared, like the trench in green '60s tie fabrics.
Miuccia played a lot with chiffon and sequins, pairing them in elegantly edgy blouses and
sleek dresses.
But her favorite material was slivery chain mail used in T-shirts, skirts and trims.
The collection ended with an outing of sexy sirens, but definitely not airheads.
Miuccia is such a great designer that even when she presents a sexually charged show,
her girls all look like they have graduate degrees.
Now when can we get our hands on some shares?
Prada
Prada
|
