AW16 in Milan saw Prada menswear put on a show of seafaring style, with Miuccia looking to historical references in order to “reflect what is happening now with what is happening in history. To see if we have something to learn.”
The maritime theme, complete with doughboy sailor hats and rather basic colour palette based around hues only found in the natural world, also looked to various other landmark historical moments, such as the union of Cleopatra and Marc Antony and infamous battles, and decorated the collection with them.
An curious choice of decoration at that the overarching vibe for the wintry months was indeed not quite as sea-shanty merry as one would think, instead Miuccia presented what would become a collection of sturdy formals and cropped trousers, all appearing slightly askew.
Throughout other parts of the collection Prada took basics, the white shirt or the oversized knitted vest, as close to the extreme as possible and then abandoned it there, leaving it with a lop-sided collar there and an unnecessary show of skin there.
Topping off a handful of looks with folkish jackets only stressed the sense of confusion that Miuccia wanted to convey, setting fashionistas’ hands scratching heads yet again.
To that end the mood was strong and very effective, immersing the consumer or simply the viewing public in Miuccia’s world, a world that, love it or hate it, reverberates thought-provokingly through the language of fashion.
by Liam Feltham
Images courtesy of Prada