Miuccia Prada, a name synonymous with modernity and reinvention, has long been a leader in forward thinking design and innovation. Case in point, Prada’s fall/winter 1996 collection, a subversive, minimalistic response to the standard woman’s wear styles of the 1990’s.
One of the most iconic runway moments of the past three decades, Prada’s collection of cubist-style prints and muted hues sought reference from the 1960s and 70s, while catapulting 20th century fashion into a new era. Miuccia’s subtle manipulation of shape, color, material and silhouette, fosters collections that are both unfalteringly cool and unarguably timeless. For fall/winter 1996, the designer employed all such techniques to prove why every woman wants and needs to be a Prada woman.
As the show commenced, 90s supermodels sauntered down the runway in structured suiting and simple daywear rendered in shades of khaki, brown and mustard yellow. Heavy fabrics offered a sense of solidity and weight to the collection, seen in thick wool calf-length skirts and tailored trousers, many styled with nothing but an effortless camel turtleneck or grey V-neck sweater. A retro text motif was scattered throughout the season’s opening looks, as geometric argyle-patterns were introduced mid-show – a motif that has since been reinterpreted by countless designers and even reintroduced by Prada herself, for the brand’s fall/winter 2012 show. The season’s featured eveningwear took shape in a number of lilac and mossy sheer gowns subtly embellished with glittering seams – yet another of Prada’s now trademark finishing techniques.
Over the past three decades Miuccia Prada has shown season-after-season that her brilliance lies in her singular ability to approach fashion design with a restrained, architectural eye; a unique talent that defined the brand’s fall/winter 1996 collection.
![Prada fw 1996 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4AxKtJh8AGuEuQBIQds3xC/10d99aa215ee6a66d5ac5d727c96ecc7/Prada_FW_1996_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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David Hammons
Photographed on September 2, 1980, in New York City
![David hammons photographed on september 2 1980 in new york city](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5D1mhVAuZSKfOLW7dYqaLF/1081f7fae3a7808c7134164e530e3932/David_Hammons_photographed_on_September_2__1980__in_New_York_City.jpg)
Gio Ponti
La Villa Namazee, 1957
![Gio ponti la villa namazee 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/y9wDUti8uC7bHO4RN1Etm/882e7ac86cfc127172132e89f74f446f/Gio_Ponti__La_Villa_Namazee__1957.jpg)
André Sornay
Green-lacquered wooden cabinet, 1930
![Andre sornay green lacquered wooden cabinet. six shelves in oak inside. ca. 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7Ksfk5vkFX0NPhAq7bsGJm/0a87fc3884667b7b4656cc8dc3a38506/Andre_Sornay__Green-lacquered_wooden_cabinet._Six_shelves_in_oak_inside.__ca._1930.jpg)
Agnes Martin
Untitled, 1963
![Agnes martin untitled 1963](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2Uxg06HUOc7lhyi2p4EsZW/3805d000b506f7e7f1dd48ad1d48724f/agnes_martin_untitled_1963.jpg)
Anni Albers
Wall Hanging, 1926
![Annie albers wall hanging 1926](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7ubdMTWhB65SPC7t9EI5wr/8176c9ea1a3d8b70d3f4e19008a9e9a4/Annie_Albers_Wall_Hanging__1926.jpg)
Domenico Gnoli
Green-Bed-Cover, 1969
![Domenico gnoli green bed cover 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5KKpBDUaDX9S1gKv56KhAS/5b63b5a8efe343d48b1a2b36914ebb4f/Domenico_Gnoli_Green-Bed-Cover__1969.jpg)
Fortunato Depero
Page from Depero Futurista (Libro imbullonato), Milan,1927
![015 depero depero depero](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4XvVr23lTokh6cmguJwJeF/1bda5f0678c98961ffa76f8e6a79388a/015_Depero_Depero_Depero.jpg)
Lucio Costa
Housing complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
![1428596 brazil bristol lucio costa](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3tRubb2ke07KI7N32xqLwA/c3c8f2bf2b28a40902104215ad07ed20/1428596_Brazil_Bristol_Lucio_Costa.jpg)
Agnes Martin
'Untitled', 1959
![Agnes martin untitled 1959](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2XNusgtyCie1um3WRYYRxY/345f75eb806cd3d76020d2158a0e742f/Agnes_Martin___Untitled___1959_.jpg)
Anni Albers
Tikal, 1958
![Anni albers tikal 1958](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/15pkAn9kC3yEgasGlIIPLT/cdaa8964bac7bd66c1bd2310b60a6431/Anni_Albers__Tikal__1958.png)
Barnett Newman
Concord, 1949
![Barnett newman concord 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3HRysB8uixM2SWPfP11ZnC/9706ef788be11d56b68e969ab7eacaad/Barnett_Newman__Concord__1949.jpg)
Franco Albini
Luisa Chair, 1960s
![Franco albinin luisa chair c fondazione franco albini](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7ELk0GBDms9qEUM9uQmgHm/d7d54ac6293e0a0520db8deee295fb42/Franco_Albinin_luisa-chair-c-fondazione-franco-albini.jpg)
Gio Ponti
Sofa for Palazzo Liviano, 1939
![Gio ponti rare sofa for palazzo liviano university of padova 1939](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4egtBrf52etrPRuOpYwb26/a1eaad74e039a67192ae55c378f925b8/GIO_PONTI__rare_sofa_for_Palazzo_Liviano__University_of_Padova__1939.jpg)
Giulio Minoletti
Condominio ai Giardini d'Arcadia in corso di Porta Romana, 1955
![Giulio minoletti condominio ai giardini d arcadia in corso di porta romana 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7xSlcIhaM5LamEisXaUKQP/01e36ae21e693ce1d531bf59917818d6/Giulio_Minoletti__Condominio_ai_Giardini_d_Arcadia_in_corso_di_Porta_Romana__1955.jpg)
George Hoyningen-Huene
Greta Garbo, 1951
![Greta garbo photo george hoyningen huene 1951](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/mmP6PwGQKKSSvlKESFhMJ/a535af9004f06c69eebd8e9d6d820fe7/Greta_Garbo_Photo_George_Hoyningen-Huene_1951.jpg)
Ico Parisi
Wooden and Rattan Magazine Rack, 1950
![Ico parisi wooden and rattan magazine rack 1950](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6s52U1vDQ0Auz4eoCrGIZR/07cb0dad3dd301db9c1fda0b8b1c9cba/Ico_Parisi_Wooden_and_Rattan_Magazine_Rack__1950.jpg)
Yves Saint Laurent
Haute Couture, 1970
![Yves saint laurent haute couture circa 1970](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Z8ExL9iYXJRlWabQRZ81R/3b8e49bc641fe849d66402305e71a556/YVES_SAINT_LAURENT__Haute_Couture__circa_1970.jpg)
References
![David hammons photographed on september 2 1980 in new york city](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5D1mhVAuZSKfOLW7dYqaLF/1081f7fae3a7808c7134164e530e3932/David_Hammons_photographed_on_September_2__1980__in_New_York_City.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
David Hammons
Photographed on September 2, 1980, in New York City
1 of 17
![Gio ponti la villa namazee 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/y9wDUti8uC7bHO4RN1Etm/882e7ac86cfc127172132e89f74f446f/Gio_Ponti__La_Villa_Namazee__1957.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gio Ponti
La Villa Namazee, 1957
2 of 17
![Andre sornay green lacquered wooden cabinet. six shelves in oak inside. ca. 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7Ksfk5vkFX0NPhAq7bsGJm/0a87fc3884667b7b4656cc8dc3a38506/Andre_Sornay__Green-lacquered_wooden_cabinet._Six_shelves_in_oak_inside.__ca._1930.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
André Sornay
Green-lacquered wooden cabinet, 1930
3 of 17
![Agnes martin untitled 1963](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2Uxg06HUOc7lhyi2p4EsZW/3805d000b506f7e7f1dd48ad1d48724f/agnes_martin_untitled_1963.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Agnes Martin
Untitled, 1963
4 of 17
![Annie albers wall hanging 1926](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7ubdMTWhB65SPC7t9EI5wr/8176c9ea1a3d8b70d3f4e19008a9e9a4/Annie_Albers_Wall_Hanging__1926.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Anni Albers
Wall Hanging, 1926
5 of 17
![Domenico gnoli green bed cover 1969](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5KKpBDUaDX9S1gKv56KhAS/5b63b5a8efe343d48b1a2b36914ebb4f/Domenico_Gnoli_Green-Bed-Cover__1969.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Domenico Gnoli
Green-Bed-Cover, 1969
6 of 17
![015 depero depero depero](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4XvVr23lTokh6cmguJwJeF/1bda5f0678c98961ffa76f8e6a79388a/015_Depero_Depero_Depero.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Fortunato Depero
Page from Depero Futurista (Libro imbullonato), Milan,1927
7 of 17
![1428596 brazil bristol lucio costa](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3tRubb2ke07KI7N32xqLwA/c3c8f2bf2b28a40902104215ad07ed20/1428596_Brazil_Bristol_Lucio_Costa.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Lucio Costa
Housing complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8 of 17
![Agnes martin untitled 1959](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2XNusgtyCie1um3WRYYRxY/345f75eb806cd3d76020d2158a0e742f/Agnes_Martin___Untitled___1959_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Agnes Martin
'Untitled', 1959
9 of 17
![Anni albers tikal 1958](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/15pkAn9kC3yEgasGlIIPLT/cdaa8964bac7bd66c1bd2310b60a6431/Anni_Albers__Tikal__1958.png?w=1000&q=70)
Anni Albers
Tikal, 1958
10 of 17
![Barnett newman concord 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3HRysB8uixM2SWPfP11ZnC/9706ef788be11d56b68e969ab7eacaad/Barnett_Newman__Concord__1949.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Barnett Newman
Concord, 1949
11 of 17
![Franco albinin luisa chair c fondazione franco albini](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7ELk0GBDms9qEUM9uQmgHm/d7d54ac6293e0a0520db8deee295fb42/Franco_Albinin_luisa-chair-c-fondazione-franco-albini.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Franco Albini
Luisa Chair, 1960s
12 of 17
![Gio ponti rare sofa for palazzo liviano university of padova 1939](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4egtBrf52etrPRuOpYwb26/a1eaad74e039a67192ae55c378f925b8/GIO_PONTI__rare_sofa_for_Palazzo_Liviano__University_of_Padova__1939.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gio Ponti
Sofa for Palazzo Liviano, 1939
13 of 17
![Giulio minoletti condominio ai giardini d arcadia in corso di porta romana 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7xSlcIhaM5LamEisXaUKQP/01e36ae21e693ce1d531bf59917818d6/Giulio_Minoletti__Condominio_ai_Giardini_d_Arcadia_in_corso_di_Porta_Romana__1955.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Giulio Minoletti
Condominio ai Giardini d'Arcadia in corso di Porta Romana, 1955
14 of 17
![Greta garbo photo george hoyningen huene 1951](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/mmP6PwGQKKSSvlKESFhMJ/a535af9004f06c69eebd8e9d6d820fe7/Greta_Garbo_Photo_George_Hoyningen-Huene_1951.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
George Hoyningen-Huene
Greta Garbo, 1951
15 of 17
![Ico parisi wooden and rattan magazine rack 1950](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6s52U1vDQ0Auz4eoCrGIZR/07cb0dad3dd301db9c1fda0b8b1c9cba/Ico_Parisi_Wooden_and_Rattan_Magazine_Rack__1950.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ico Parisi
Wooden and Rattan Magazine Rack, 1950
16 of 17
![Yves saint laurent haute couture circa 1970](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Z8ExL9iYXJRlWabQRZ81R/3b8e49bc641fe849d66402305e71a556/YVES_SAINT_LAURENT__Haute_Couture__circa_1970.jpg?w=1000&q=70)