Prada’s Return to Resort at the Fondazione Prada Osservatorio

by Paige Reddinger

Prada made a return to the Resort calendar with its show at the Fondazione Prada Osservatorio over the weekend. The space, which is dedicated to photography exhibitions and “visual languages”, is located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The beautiful venue also happens to be just above the store opened by Miuccia Prada‘s grandfather in 1913. The clothing reflected that era. It was La Belle Époque à la Prada, which meant ruffle bibbed blouses on sheer pastel fabrics in shimmering, pleated, and scalloped shift dresses and a-line silhouettes. Knee-high socks and shoes were accented with art deco details. There were more of Prada’s popular Chinoise pajama suits accented with ostrich feather cuffs that were first introduced for Spring 2017—this time they came accented with sparkly paillette details. And artist James Jean returned to collaborate with Miuccia Prada on romantic and whimsical prints of rabbits and lillies.

Mixed in with this more saccharine side of Prada, was a sporty element in a return to the brand’s love affair with nylon. Instead of being incorporated into bags and backpacks, which were the initial Prada boon of the early ’90s, the material was worked into ultra chic sporty windbreakers and shift dresses. The beauty in that, of course, lies in the fact that they not only look cool but are easy to pack for those jet-setting during resort season. The lightness of the collection was accentuated by the open feeling of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Osservatorio. Overall it felt like a much needed breath of fresh air that deftly combined de rigueur sporty streetwear elements with overt femininity.

 

 

 

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