For Prada’s Spring Summer 2013 show, Miuccia Prada wrote an ode to Japanese femininity. Using this inspiration as a through line for the collection, Prada then married the aesthetics of traditional, contemporary, and futuristic. In doing so, traditional influences of the geisha were paired with harajuku style accessories, bringing together modern Japanese womenswear with that of history.
There is something delicate here in Miuccia’s interpretation of Japonisme. Satin fabrics are folded in form reminiscent of the paper folds of origami. Oriental white floral patterns, sometimes consisting of just one or two flowers are featured on simple back dresses. Delicate silk ties on the shoes are neatly tied into ballerina-esque bows. But similarly, there is also something quite edgy here, most notably by way of accessories. The footwear in this collection consists of metallic sock-like pieces separated at the big toe. Often, the shoes feature thick platforms striped in black, white, and neon green. With Prada’s color choice and unique design, they almost suggest a space-age aesthetic. Architectural bags and sunglasses are ornamented with floral graphics similar to those found on the garments.
As the show goes on, Miuccia introduces color (particularly deep green, then bold red, and on to girlish pinks and pastelle greens) to the garments as well as varying patterns and silhouettes. We begin to see a range of cuts from high neck to off-the-shoulder, and a lovely crop of fur jackets. The florals begin to travel from traditional to Warholian and back again. In this way, Prada is able to beautifully take historic inspiration and pepper in modern characteristics in a way that feels both natural and new.
Traditional elements like kimono-like silhouettes, structured satins, and even the precise red lip were notable highlights of inspiration for Miuccia Prada here. But what she pulls off in this collection is proof of her mastery in applying a subtle, unexpected modern lens. Prada pays homage to a Geisha-like femininity while also challenging it, and bringing that aesthetic to coexist with a new bold, daring take on womanhood.
![Prada ss 2013 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1l5qhoExFXZGl8NMremEKN/3fd1d6cb15671be404478d03f7d60020/Prada_SS_2013_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Mary Quant
Mod Ensemble, 1960d
Irving Penn
Red-Lacquered Lid, New York, 1994
![Irving penn red lacquered lid new york 1994](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4LhYslAqJKIl3HMEQtvMW2/a4465e6e0c149effa4fd3a5ed90641b7/Irving_Penn__Red-Lacquered_Lid__New_York__1994.jpg)
Vivienne Westwood
Rocking Horse Boots, 1985
![Vivienne westwood rocking horse boots 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5fh8tn3QuKTvko8Fn1TmX8/286bcf2b2d07b1359e6b02770a4b61d1/Vivienne_Westwood__Rocking_Horse_Boots__1985.jpg)
Jean Burkhalter
Armchair, 1930
![Jean burkhalter armchair 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4RsciBlzj5mnF5nNxXvNYo/797f3e166917e9a84e34b68043c57f13/Jean_Burkhalter__Armchair__1930.jpg)
Nobuyoshi Araki
from the Erotos Series, 1993
![Nobuyoshi araki from the erotos series 1993](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1nlskbCDcTTuZKaxlQ14Kr/022d10b25189021e9f813eb2cd01617f/Nobuyoshi_Araki__from_the_Erotos_Series__1993.jpg)
Jean Dunand
A Vase, Circa 1925
![Jean dunand a vase circa 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6z75KCBHIlMQxjJEiXy4G3/4a078829a2d092bb9bb7d2c7d72f6d79/JEAN_DUNAND__A_VASE__CIRCA_1925_.jpg)
Pierre Legrain
Bird Cage on Stand (for Jacques Doucet residence, Paris, France), 1925
![Pierre legrain bird cage on stand for jacques doucet residence paris france 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4GbFEKiGGSoKrslkD2Ltin/3152cacfc10a51416b6aee71a95ccfa2/Pierre_Legrain__Bird_Cage_on_Stand__for_Jacques_Doucet_residence__Paris__France___1925.jpg)
Bert Stern
Vogue, 1968
![Bert stern vogue 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/56chbEiZWx6nAErtGaSNzM/aca6c4fae38d634783691f83d1878d45/Bert_Stern__Vogue__1968.jpg)
Helmut Newton
Lips, Vogue 1983
![Helmut newton lips vogue 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4l9INGNALNFrWx5wSz3WJ6/ef83585baf936d576c4225f3627cda02/Helmut_Newton__Lips__Vogue_1983.jpg)
Kisho Kurokawa
Nakagin Capsule Tower, 1972, Chūō-ku, Japan
![Kisho kurokawa nakagin capsule tower 1972 chu o ku japan](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7bEmOLqz1EU8hCiB6aic6x/fa6936548411d03280b3349585f3abc6/Kisho_Kurokawa__Nakagin_Capsule_Tower__1972__Chu__o__-ku__Japan.jpeg)
Kisho Kurokawa
Edo Armchair, for Tendo Co.
![Kisho kurokawa edo armchair for tendo co.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7dU44W8pS6AEjSNrDrD81Q/279d896215db964b405d12e46d9b2755/Kisho_Kurokawa__Edo_Armchair__for_Tendo_Co..jpg)
Nobuyoshi Araki
Painting Flower, 2004 : 2014
![Nobuyoshi araki painting flower 2004 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7DOU0EbhUs598HHY88d3gM/44e7f73f24055cf9d23578b6b182780d/Nobuyoshi_Araki__Painting_Flower__2004___2014.jpg)
Bert Stern
Models Wearing Andre Courreges, Vogue, 1968
![Bert stern models wearing andre courreges vogue 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/LGlJgzfq3yGoLHbrEhpF0/1505f39955e6f1ca804486089710b1c9/Bert_Stern__Models_Wearing_Andre_Courreges__Vogue__1968.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Lightning Fields 225, 2009
![Hiroshi sugimoto lightning fields 225 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kx011Rx978lfK3L2ffRWX/8f42128d70af1d850e2d821f4f821cca/Hiroshi_Sugimoto__Lightning_Fields_225__2009.jpg)
Isamu Noguchi
Planet in Transit #1, 1968 - 1972
![Isamu noguchi planet in transit 1 1968 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6nJ4SB7L0dB9yQjhyrxspM/3ccd6ea56528a0af91f66117ffa24970/Isamu_Noguchi__Planet_in_Transit__1__1968_-_1972.jpg)
Nobuyoshi Araki
Untitled, from the series "Flowers and Jamorinsky", 2005-2006
![Nobuyoshi araki untitled from the series flowers and jamorinsky 2005 2006](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IQoHw1Ls80OHUknHYVt4Y/bd995d71a9e661487a9fa9901b7c0954/Nobuyoshi_Araki__Untitled__from_the_series__Flowers_and_Jamorinsky___2005-2006.jpg)
Richard Avedon
Twiggy, Vogue, July 1967
![Richard avedon twiggy vogue july 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4cQc7PShjblICCu75hChm1/cd99a46650aa3abe30e8baf5e946aac3/Richard_Avedon__Twiggy__Vogue__July_1967.jpg)
Takefumi Aida
Annihilation House, 1972, Yokohama, Japan
![Takefumi aida annihilation house 1972 yokohama japan.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3mgIttmhaAvlE68apZ4zgL/d363c48c5f72081bb47fb1ee85054041/Takefumi_Aida__Annihilation_House__1972__Yokohama__Japan._.jpg)
References
Mary Quant
Mod Ensemble, 1960d
1 of 18
![Irving penn red lacquered lid new york 1994](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4LhYslAqJKIl3HMEQtvMW2/a4465e6e0c149effa4fd3a5ed90641b7/Irving_Penn__Red-Lacquered_Lid__New_York__1994.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Irving Penn
Red-Lacquered Lid, New York, 1994
2 of 18
![Vivienne westwood rocking horse boots 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5fh8tn3QuKTvko8Fn1TmX8/286bcf2b2d07b1359e6b02770a4b61d1/Vivienne_Westwood__Rocking_Horse_Boots__1985.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Vivienne Westwood
Rocking Horse Boots, 1985
3 of 18
![Jean burkhalter armchair 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4RsciBlzj5mnF5nNxXvNYo/797f3e166917e9a84e34b68043c57f13/Jean_Burkhalter__Armchair__1930.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Burkhalter
Armchair, 1930
4 of 18
![Nobuyoshi araki from the erotos series 1993](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1nlskbCDcTTuZKaxlQ14Kr/022d10b25189021e9f813eb2cd01617f/Nobuyoshi_Araki__from_the_Erotos_Series__1993.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Nobuyoshi Araki
from the Erotos Series, 1993
5 of 18
![Jean dunand a vase circa 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6z75KCBHIlMQxjJEiXy4G3/4a078829a2d092bb9bb7d2c7d72f6d79/JEAN_DUNAND__A_VASE__CIRCA_1925_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Dunand
A Vase, Circa 1925
6 of 18
![Pierre legrain bird cage on stand for jacques doucet residence paris france 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4GbFEKiGGSoKrslkD2Ltin/3152cacfc10a51416b6aee71a95ccfa2/Pierre_Legrain__Bird_Cage_on_Stand__for_Jacques_Doucet_residence__Paris__France___1925.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Pierre Legrain
Bird Cage on Stand (for Jacques Doucet residence, Paris, France), 1925
7 of 18
![Bert stern vogue 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/56chbEiZWx6nAErtGaSNzM/aca6c4fae38d634783691f83d1878d45/Bert_Stern__Vogue__1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Bert Stern
Vogue, 1968
8 of 18
![Helmut newton lips vogue 1983](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4l9INGNALNFrWx5wSz3WJ6/ef83585baf936d576c4225f3627cda02/Helmut_Newton__Lips__Vogue_1983.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Helmut Newton
Lips, Vogue 1983
9 of 18
![Kisho kurokawa nakagin capsule tower 1972 chu o ku japan](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7bEmOLqz1EU8hCiB6aic6x/fa6936548411d03280b3349585f3abc6/Kisho_Kurokawa__Nakagin_Capsule_Tower__1972__Chu__o__-ku__Japan.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Kisho Kurokawa
Nakagin Capsule Tower, 1972, Chūō-ku, Japan
10 of 18
![Kisho kurokawa edo armchair for tendo co.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7dU44W8pS6AEjSNrDrD81Q/279d896215db964b405d12e46d9b2755/Kisho_Kurokawa__Edo_Armchair__for_Tendo_Co..jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Kisho Kurokawa
Edo Armchair, for Tendo Co.
11 of 18
![Nobuyoshi araki painting flower 2004 2014](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7DOU0EbhUs598HHY88d3gM/44e7f73f24055cf9d23578b6b182780d/Nobuyoshi_Araki__Painting_Flower__2004___2014.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Nobuyoshi Araki
Painting Flower, 2004 : 2014
12 of 18
![Bert stern models wearing andre courreges vogue 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/LGlJgzfq3yGoLHbrEhpF0/1505f39955e6f1ca804486089710b1c9/Bert_Stern__Models_Wearing_Andre_Courreges__Vogue__1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Bert Stern
Models Wearing Andre Courreges, Vogue, 1968
13 of 18
![Hiroshi sugimoto lightning fields 225 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1kx011Rx978lfK3L2ffRWX/8f42128d70af1d850e2d821f4f821cca/Hiroshi_Sugimoto__Lightning_Fields_225__2009.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Lightning Fields 225, 2009
14 of 18
![Isamu noguchi planet in transit 1 1968 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6nJ4SB7L0dB9yQjhyrxspM/3ccd6ea56528a0af91f66117ffa24970/Isamu_Noguchi__Planet_in_Transit__1__1968_-_1972.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Isamu Noguchi
Planet in Transit #1, 1968 - 1972
15 of 18
![Nobuyoshi araki untitled from the series flowers and jamorinsky 2005 2006](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IQoHw1Ls80OHUknHYVt4Y/bd995d71a9e661487a9fa9901b7c0954/Nobuyoshi_Araki__Untitled__from_the_series__Flowers_and_Jamorinsky___2005-2006.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Nobuyoshi Araki
Untitled, from the series "Flowers and Jamorinsky", 2005-2006
16 of 18
![Richard avedon twiggy vogue july 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4cQc7PShjblICCu75hChm1/cd99a46650aa3abe30e8baf5e946aac3/Richard_Avedon__Twiggy__Vogue__July_1967.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Richard Avedon
Twiggy, Vogue, July 1967
17 of 18
![Takefumi aida annihilation house 1972 yokohama japan.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3mgIttmhaAvlE68apZ4zgL/d363c48c5f72081bb47fb1ee85054041/Takefumi_Aida__Annihilation_House__1972__Yokohama__Japan._.jpg?w=1000&q=70)