Once again Miuccia Prada has defied expectations and challenged norms. In a season of all-white openers, Prada’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection featured neon colors, vibrant prints, and fiery silhouettes.
Perhaps the most obvious influences on this collection are the 1920s and Latin America. The models’ finger wave hair, drop-waist skirts, and fur stoles all signify Josephine Baker, not to mention the banana print throughout the collection which references Baker’s famous banana ensemble from 1926. On the other hand, the vibrant tropical colors, oversized brimmed hats, and ruffled hems all look to Latin America for inspiration. The use of stripes, cheeky baroque prints with the collection’s signature bananas, and the replacement of cherubs with monkeys all make use of playfulness and reject the serious.
Still, elements of Prada’s designs remain hard to define. The opening looks featured the collection’s neon colors, but their unusual stiff sleeves and rounded shoulders seem to make a different point than the more fun-loving looks of the collection. Meanwhile, other ensembles reference the nurses scrubs of Prada’s previous menswear collection. Finishing out the show were a series of black and grey ensembles, including skirt suits. The element of playfulness carries through here in horizontal stripes, adding fun into even the most serious looks of the collection. It is difficult to determine exactly what Miuccia meant with this collection, but as with all things, the devil is in the details.
![Prada ss 2011 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7ekgEqeBo8sl7W4NySAvrO/0d6b939f7c0144bb7b7821acdebda8b4/Prada_SS_2011_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Andy Warhol
Polaroid of Bananas
![Bananas photo by andy warhol](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ARNGMtGgIboTrfTDTeyYL/cf32115c704198cc94cf943882f99e80/Bananas_photo_by_Andy_Warhol.jpg)
Ettore Sottsass
Superbox, 1969
![Ettore sottsass superbox](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/41OTt1JCz8vsGPR1cwh3dr/9c1ba00c2295876ba6a14873aa8cb132/Ettore_Sottsass_Superbox.jpg)
Isamu Noguchi
Bamboo Basket Chair, 1950
![Isamu noguchi bamboo basket chair](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kmCTLcEoT9X9pAYp859qe/2e3366155b61718af6fe2590c157e83e/Isamu_Noguchi__bamboo_basket_chair.jpg)
Marc Newson
Lockheed Lounge, 1988
![Marc newson lockheed lounge 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4wNJgbgNQtLOhlNXGsS7LZ/c3cd69538217eaa890f3e1506e778a8e/Marc_Newson__Lockheed_Lounge__1988.jpg)
Harper's Bazaar
1966
![Harper s bazaar 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ptZFyPh2MWdbUpXRnVYTz/5d6a164758e1f0c0f34ad44f5a05b533/Harper_s_Bazaar_1966.jpg)
Seventeen Magazine
September 1967
![Seventeen september 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4sJaFpeIeKDTHnPAwblckt/4413d88f33f91267ef758df2c62875b9/Seventeen__September_1967.jpg)
Josephine Baker
In her Banana Costume
![Josephinebaker 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Je0uO01x66J053OfhM1Bw/cd73e9621079ad74ab4640f76491349e/josephinebaker_1.jpg)
Andy Warhol
Banana Dress, 1966
![Andy warhol banana dress 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/30Ujr3hkatcWoHEKyEUHw3/cba48f92063e03671b4894b6608df05a/Andy_Warhol_Banana_Dress__1966.jpg)
Andy Warhol
'Monkey ( Toy Painting )', 1983
![Andy warhol monkey toy painting 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tj2i7gkQSiIyWi4PsiGJD/aa3c9abca5daf3fd57becfc1f490f35a/Andy_Warhol___Monkey___Toy_Painting_____1983_.jpg)
Patrick Kelly
Banana Girl Sketch, 1987
![Banana girl sketch patrick kel ly 1987](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1VhionhApx8moRA9zeSXMI/07e717aaf0320044d6e85d7006254fd9/Banana_Girl_Sketch__Patrick_Kel_ly__1987.jpg)
Carmen Miranda
Portrait
![Carmen miranda](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4q3YH08uQq3MIVPloGqpEb/72304656a15a96dfec91530877f01f16/Carmen_Miranda.jpg)
Cecil Beaton
Wallis Simpson Schiaparelli, 1937
![Cecil beaton wallis simpson in elsa schiaparelli 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/zhD6eBhq40iwPNt6ljqcu/4879c3b8458bb7439fa80bb337d7b990/Cecil_Beaton__Wallis_Simpson_in_Elsa_Schiaparelli___1937.jpg)
Georges Jouve
Vase Femme a Nichons, 1948
![Georges jouve vase femme a nichons 1948 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/79YKf9urmM8I9nZhajun7R/94981b49dbeebbbef7994926f5c9f32b/Georges_Jouve__VASE_FEMME_A_NICHONS_1948_1.jpg)
Georges Jouve
Vase Femme a Nichons, 1948
![Georges jouve vase femme a nichons 1948](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6OPBbJiHbwqgwAyKwe8g7b/b78265c73db644e0a3f9833e692498e8/Georges_Jouve__VASE_FEMME_A_NICHONS_1948.jpg)
Jacques-Henri Lartigue
Renée Perle, 1930-1932
![Jacques henri lartigue rene e perle 1930 1932](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6aiFnVyyVN97e8LLf4Llk9/d2a65297c0dc89c504074ebc970c38d1/Jacques-Henri_LARTIGUE__Rene__e_Perle__1930-1932.jpg)
Jeff Koons
Wishing Well Mirror, 1988
![Jeff koons wishing well mirror 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6jVdnKT2iNyogWYoLP4SZ6/faa88126a8646b36c348ae2d8992bcc1/Jeff_Koons_Wishing_Well_Mirror__1988.jpg)
Wide White Space Gallery
Exhibition Poster, Antwerp, Belgium, 1971
![Oster exhibition poster for wide white space gallery antwerp belgium 1971](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/63LX2EAuNWpGIzsxCWFEsw/219569b96c9eac26e4270862a487797c/oster__Exhibition_Poster_for_Wide_White_Space_Gallery__Antwerp__Belgium___1971.jpg)
Pierre Cardin
Eyewear, 1960s
![Pierre cardin eyewear 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2lfuoxHoVvQrVcap6vYcl2/f3a6eb6858f99998feaff5489c2bc599/pierre-cardin-eyewear__1960s.jpeg)
Steven Holl
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
![Steven holl the nelson atkins museum of art](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4gYxr2CixLMUXWlhWrQiAg/2192dc98a5862df076618c7840e35774/Steven_Holl__THE_NELSON-ATKINS_MUSEUM_OF_ART.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Teatro Carignano, Turin, 2016
![Teatro carignano turin 2016 by hiroshi sugimoto](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7eFEtWIMRqIUgccx9eDbjp/97b58565dadeb6ffbf7d471837f63dfb/Teatro_Carignano__Turin__2016__by_Hiroshi_Sugimoto.jpg)
Yves Klein
(Untitled) Blue Monochrome
![Yves klein untitled blue monochrome ikb 82](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IEgGu5sz3xPJO4RVcKyIG/4481a968c604a4952362fae3cb5215a6/Yves_Klein_Untitled_blue_monochrome__IKB_82_.jpg)
References
![Bananas photo by andy warhol](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ARNGMtGgIboTrfTDTeyYL/cf32115c704198cc94cf943882f99e80/Bananas_photo_by_Andy_Warhol.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andy Warhol
Polaroid of Bananas
1 of 22
![Ettore sottsass superbox](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/41OTt1JCz8vsGPR1cwh3dr/9c1ba00c2295876ba6a14873aa8cb132/Ettore_Sottsass_Superbox.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ettore Sottsass
Superbox, 1969
2 of 22
![Isamu noguchi bamboo basket chair](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kmCTLcEoT9X9pAYp859qe/2e3366155b61718af6fe2590c157e83e/Isamu_Noguchi__bamboo_basket_chair.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Isamu Noguchi
Bamboo Basket Chair, 1950
3 of 22
![Marc newson lockheed lounge 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4wNJgbgNQtLOhlNXGsS7LZ/c3cd69538217eaa890f3e1506e778a8e/Marc_Newson__Lockheed_Lounge__1988.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Marc Newson
Lockheed Lounge, 1988
4 of 22
![Harper s bazaar 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4ptZFyPh2MWdbUpXRnVYTz/5d6a164758e1f0c0f34ad44f5a05b533/Harper_s_Bazaar_1966.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Harper's Bazaar
1966
5 of 22
![Seventeen september 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4sJaFpeIeKDTHnPAwblckt/4413d88f33f91267ef758df2c62875b9/Seventeen__September_1967.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Seventeen Magazine
September 1967
6 of 22
![Josephinebaker 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5Je0uO01x66J053OfhM1Bw/cd73e9621079ad74ab4640f76491349e/josephinebaker_1.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Josephine Baker
In her Banana Costume
7 of 22
![Andy warhol banana dress 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/30Ujr3hkatcWoHEKyEUHw3/cba48f92063e03671b4894b6608df05a/Andy_Warhol_Banana_Dress__1966.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andy Warhol
Banana Dress, 1966
8 of 22
![Andy warhol monkey toy painting 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tj2i7gkQSiIyWi4PsiGJD/aa3c9abca5daf3fd57becfc1f490f35a/Andy_Warhol___Monkey___Toy_Painting_____1983_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andy Warhol
'Monkey ( Toy Painting )', 1983
9 of 22
![Banana girl sketch patrick kel ly 1987](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1VhionhApx8moRA9zeSXMI/07e717aaf0320044d6e85d7006254fd9/Banana_Girl_Sketch__Patrick_Kel_ly__1987.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Patrick Kelly
Banana Girl Sketch, 1987
10 of 22
![Carmen miranda](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4q3YH08uQq3MIVPloGqpEb/72304656a15a96dfec91530877f01f16/Carmen_Miranda.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Carmen Miranda
Portrait
11 of 22
![Cecil beaton wallis simpson in elsa schiaparelli 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/zhD6eBhq40iwPNt6ljqcu/4879c3b8458bb7439fa80bb337d7b990/Cecil_Beaton__Wallis_Simpson_in_Elsa_Schiaparelli___1937.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Cecil Beaton
Wallis Simpson Schiaparelli, 1937
12 of 22
![Georges jouve vase femme a nichons 1948 1](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/79YKf9urmM8I9nZhajun7R/94981b49dbeebbbef7994926f5c9f32b/Georges_Jouve__VASE_FEMME_A_NICHONS_1948_1.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Georges Jouve
Vase Femme a Nichons, 1948
13 of 22
![Georges jouve vase femme a nichons 1948](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6OPBbJiHbwqgwAyKwe8g7b/b78265c73db644e0a3f9833e692498e8/Georges_Jouve__VASE_FEMME_A_NICHONS_1948.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Georges Jouve
Vase Femme a Nichons, 1948
14 of 22
![Jacques henri lartigue rene e perle 1930 1932](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6aiFnVyyVN97e8LLf4Llk9/d2a65297c0dc89c504074ebc970c38d1/Jacques-Henri_LARTIGUE__Rene__e_Perle__1930-1932.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jacques-Henri Lartigue
Renée Perle, 1930-1932
15 of 22
![Jeff koons wishing well mirror 1988](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6jVdnKT2iNyogWYoLP4SZ6/faa88126a8646b36c348ae2d8992bcc1/Jeff_Koons_Wishing_Well_Mirror__1988.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jeff Koons
Wishing Well Mirror, 1988
16 of 22
![Oster exhibition poster for wide white space gallery antwerp belgium 1971](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/63LX2EAuNWpGIzsxCWFEsw/219569b96c9eac26e4270862a487797c/oster__Exhibition_Poster_for_Wide_White_Space_Gallery__Antwerp__Belgium___1971.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Wide White Space Gallery
Exhibition Poster, Antwerp, Belgium, 1971
17 of 22
![Pierre cardin eyewear 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2lfuoxHoVvQrVcap6vYcl2/f3a6eb6858f99998feaff5489c2bc599/pierre-cardin-eyewear__1960s.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Pierre Cardin
Eyewear, 1960s
18 of 22
![Steven holl the nelson atkins museum of art](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4gYxr2CixLMUXWlhWrQiAg/2192dc98a5862df076618c7840e35774/Steven_Holl__THE_NELSON-ATKINS_MUSEUM_OF_ART.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Steven Holl
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
20 of 22
![Teatro carignano turin 2016 by hiroshi sugimoto](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7eFEtWIMRqIUgccx9eDbjp/97b58565dadeb6ffbf7d471837f63dfb/Teatro_Carignano__Turin__2016__by_Hiroshi_Sugimoto.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Teatro Carignano, Turin, 2016
21 of 22
![Yves klein untitled blue monochrome ikb 82](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IEgGu5sz3xPJO4RVcKyIG/4481a968c604a4952362fae3cb5215a6/Yves_Klein_Untitled_blue_monochrome__IKB_82_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)