Whether you are familiar with Mary Shelly’s haunting yet inviting diction, or one of the various visual iterations of Frankenstein, there is an undeniable nostalgia in Miuccia Prada’s Fall/Winter 2019 Women’s ready-to-wear collection. The soft grunge aesthetic nods towards the trope of the stereotypical Frankenstein character: a feared creature who yearns for romantic attention; Miuccia presents us with exactly that. The show begins with a structured- strapless-black-dress-chunky-boot combo on a electric candle lit runway to the tune of anxiety-driven music.
Through the use of sleek, structured cuts and metal accents, the audience takes note of this interplay between romance and edge. In particular, the 3D, often wilted, flower accents are the perfect mélange between fragility and perseverance that we are all too familiar with. As we continue to be both intimidated and intrigued, padded shoulders are introduced, an obvious homage to Frankenstein’s visual trademark. Repeated usage of red also acts as a palette cleanser, while ashy, loose fabrics make us think of the moment between life and death.
But what would Prada be without a utilitarian flair? Miuccia updates the theme with countryside, fur-shop-esque coats, padded, army green, pocketed jackets and doctor bags. The models’ slicked hair and circular spectacles give us punk rock chic meets art historian. There are also darling capes that are reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood.
Overall, Prada's Fall/Winter 2019 women’s collection reminds us of information we’ve seen before, but in the best way possible. It is the bedtime story that upon second thought seems more like a nightmare. It is romantic, thrilling, seductive and serious all at once.
![Prada fw 2019 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/cgi75g4v196xqQpDXtsIf/1d505df3392b95b475e64ef3ba5c97da/Prada_FW_2019_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
- 1
- 2
American Vogue
June, 1943
![Vogue usa 1943 june](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1EmXp3sK0FgclHIz1c2JYC/770ca12dc34166da5a3726cac64d0b9a/Vogue_USA_1943_June.jpg)
Eileen Gray
Portable Dressing Table from Villa E1027
![Eileen gray portable dressing table from villa e1027](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6uYEMOU3djP1Ttc8VFmNC6/2039225206e430f2dcbe6119e8ad722f/Eileen_Gray__Portable_Dressing_Table_from_Villa_E1027.jpg)
Bonnie Cashin
Dress Ensemble, 1964
![Bonnie cashin 1964 65](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/oMHODibzmeS8b7UKKhRS5/5ba8c64ca74515c7bd07d5a76db5b5bb/Bonnie_Cashin__1964_65.jpg)
Agustín Hernández Navarro
Praxis Studio, 1970
Miguel Berrocal
Five Italian Micro Figural Puzzles, 1970
Richard Linder
Triptych, Changing Sexuality, 1975
The Bride of Frankenstein
Movie Poster, 1935
![Mv5botuzmzazmzeznv5bml5banbnxkftztgwotg1ntawmje . v1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4aHGx85QbQOzyKEh3xgTt7/f4d00ca3c26ad12f454008051b28640e/MV5BOTUzMzAzMzEzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTg1NTAwMjE_._V1_.jpg)
Walter von Nessen
Age Lamp, 1935
![Walter von nessen age lamp 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1y3uyb4vLkqSnU6e1Eslvj/0e23d8540e4ecae44c92fdd25f76f763/Walter_von_Nessen_Age_Lamp__1935.jpg)
Edith Head
Portrait
![Edith head x main 2715629c](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Qs7fSKk2Yr8OxDLBTSGCm/81c419b5866095a6c1f64d04bb509ea9/edith-head-x-main_2715629c.jpg)
Rene Herbst
Fauteuil, 1940s
![Fauteuil by rene herbst 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2365XFCxba5xEnblpV9Ks9/5df96b47a602bd72182348fda3ed3c4a/Fauteuil_by_Rene_Herbst_1940s.jpg)
Isa Genzken
Rose II, 2007
![Isa genzken rose ii 2007](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/15V5pJ4itzJ18iBEmAcsBo/56ef9f2851d86178ab42b07e41a54344/Isa_Genzken_Rose_II_2007.jpg)
Marta Hoepffner
Komposition mit Flaschen, 1945
Adolf Rading
Interior
René Herbst
Fauteuil en Tube Laqué, Coussin de Cuir, 1928
![Rene herbst fauteuil en tube laque coussin de cuir 1928](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1744Fsqc2OdK04tu6wmTBS/08b41b5386a7c0a885deb9b5ccb648ba/Rene___HERBST__Fauteuil_en_Tube_Laque____Coussin_de_Cuir__1928.jpg)
Saul Leiter
Postmen, 1952
British Vogue
February, 1960
![Vogue uk february 1960](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/23FW3AAj6i2rRZKiLrMVDg/371d39f323cb02f724e561c8662181a9/Vogue_UK__February_1960.jpg)
WAAC
Women's Army Uniforms, 1940s
![Waac women s army uniforms 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3zxhYIQGzVlUUw5FF5b46Z/0f233856306fbfac215bc1a21efa1ac3/WAAC_Women_s_Army_Uniforms_1940s_.jpg)
William N. Copley
Confiture de Circulation, 1960
William Pereira
Geisel Library, San Diego, California, 1968
![William pereira](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/xKsQ38dcsNUatCWTNwege/babfd15b21f0246f9820e1ebcd4fac1c/William_Pereira.jpg)
References
![Vogue usa 1943 june](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1EmXp3sK0FgclHIz1c2JYC/770ca12dc34166da5a3726cac64d0b9a/Vogue_USA_1943_June.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
American Vogue
June, 1943
1 of 19
![Eileen gray portable dressing table from villa e1027](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6uYEMOU3djP1Ttc8VFmNC6/2039225206e430f2dcbe6119e8ad722f/Eileen_Gray__Portable_Dressing_Table_from_Villa_E1027.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Eileen Gray
Portable Dressing Table from Villa E1027
2 of 19
![Bonnie cashin 1964 65](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/oMHODibzmeS8b7UKKhRS5/5ba8c64ca74515c7bd07d5a76db5b5bb/Bonnie_Cashin__1964_65.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Bonnie Cashin
Dress Ensemble, 1964
3 of 19
Agustín Hernández Navarro
Praxis Studio, 1970
4 of 19
Miguel Berrocal
Five Italian Micro Figural Puzzles, 1970
5 of 19
Richard Linder
Triptych, Changing Sexuality, 1975
6 of 19
![Mv5botuzmzazmzeznv5bml5banbnxkftztgwotg1ntawmje . v1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4aHGx85QbQOzyKEh3xgTt7/f4d00ca3c26ad12f454008051b28640e/MV5BOTUzMzAzMzEzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTg1NTAwMjE_._V1_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
The Bride of Frankenstein
Movie Poster, 1935
7 of 19
![Walter von nessen age lamp 1935](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1y3uyb4vLkqSnU6e1Eslvj/0e23d8540e4ecae44c92fdd25f76f763/Walter_von_Nessen_Age_Lamp__1935.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Walter von Nessen
Age Lamp, 1935
8 of 19
![Edith head x main 2715629c](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4Qs7fSKk2Yr8OxDLBTSGCm/81c419b5866095a6c1f64d04bb509ea9/edith-head-x-main_2715629c.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Edith Head
Portrait
9 of 19
![Fauteuil by rene herbst 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2365XFCxba5xEnblpV9Ks9/5df96b47a602bd72182348fda3ed3c4a/Fauteuil_by_Rene_Herbst_1940s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Rene Herbst
Fauteuil, 1940s
10 of 19
![Isa genzken rose ii 2007](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/15V5pJ4itzJ18iBEmAcsBo/56ef9f2851d86178ab42b07e41a54344/Isa_Genzken_Rose_II_2007.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Isa Genzken
Rose II, 2007
11 of 19
Marta Hoepffner
Komposition mit Flaschen, 1945
12 of 19
Adolf Rading
Interior
13 of 19
![Rene herbst fauteuil en tube laque coussin de cuir 1928](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1744Fsqc2OdK04tu6wmTBS/08b41b5386a7c0a885deb9b5ccb648ba/Rene___HERBST__Fauteuil_en_Tube_Laque____Coussin_de_Cuir__1928.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
René Herbst
Fauteuil en Tube Laqué, Coussin de Cuir, 1928
14 of 19
Saul Leiter
Postmen, 1952
15 of 19
![Vogue uk february 1960](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/23FW3AAj6i2rRZKiLrMVDg/371d39f323cb02f724e561c8662181a9/Vogue_UK__February_1960.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
British Vogue
February, 1960
16 of 19
![Waac women s army uniforms 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3zxhYIQGzVlUUw5FF5b46Z/0f233856306fbfac215bc1a21efa1ac3/WAAC_Women_s_Army_Uniforms_1940s_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
WAAC
Women's Army Uniforms, 1940s
17 of 19
William N. Copley
Confiture de Circulation, 1960
18 of 19
![William pereira](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/xKsQ38dcsNUatCWTNwege/babfd15b21f0246f9820e1ebcd4fac1c/William_Pereira.jpg?w=1000&q=70)