Few designers, if any, other than Miuccia Prada, maintain the creative capacity from season-to-season to build on a steadfast design ethos while generating such aesthetically variant collections. What is this ethos, you may ask? First off, any discussion of Prada womenswear since the early aughts would be remiss without mention of the brand’s feverish focus on artistic narratives. Mrs. Prada has tirelessly championed the art world, both personal and professionally, with Spring/Summer 2014 being perhaps the most apt example of such occasions.
Having collaborated with four young mural artists to decorate the show’s venue, with elements of each backdrop appearing on the collection’s clothing and accessories, this season, Mrs. Prada utilized the art of collaboration in as much of a creative sense, as for a political purpose. The cultural undertones associated with the medium of ‘street art’ impacted the collection’s tonality, with models appearing more as invincible heroines, bonded together by their collective motive of generating a feminist statement on the power of being a woman.
This season’s girl gang was further unified through the collection’s focus on street and sport elements, as well as Prada’s hallmark ability to build visual contradictions through styling; tube socks with ladylike handbags, embroidered bralettes atop utilitarian coats, and bejeweled dresses over ribbed tank tops. As the show progressed, each look more vibrant and thoughtful than the last, the message became clear, the power of womanhood is invincible, especially if the woman is wearing Prada.

References
- 1
- 2
Richard Meier
Giovannitti House, 1979-83

Man Ray
Featherweight I - Poids Plume I , 1968

Alex Katz
Sara, 2012

Christian Dior
Fur Coat, 1980

Le Corbusier
Tapestry Design, Entry Gate to The Palace of Assembly, Chandigarh, 1950s

Antonio Peticov
Daybreak, 1983

Achille Castiglioni and Giovanni Pozzi
Camilla Folding Bench, 1984

CÉSAR
Compression

Cory Arcangel
Photoshop CS, 2010

Ellsworth Kelly
Curve XXI, 1978-80

Tom Wesselmann
Bedroom Painting #38, 1977

Gae Aulenti
Outdoor Furniture, 1960s

Joan Miró
Jeune Fille S'évadant, 1967-75

Josh Smith
Untitled, 2013

Le Corbusier
Student housing, Maison du Brésil, Paris

Léon Jallot
Dressing Table and Bench, 1929

Shiro Kuramata
Colorful Terrazzo

Steven Meisel
Vogue Italia, January 1994

Patons Bluebell Book 309
Vintage 70s Young Fashion Knits

References

Richard Meier
Giovannitti House, 1979-83
1 of 19

Man Ray
Featherweight I - Poids Plume I , 1968
2 of 19

Alex Katz
Sara, 2012
3 of 19

Christian Dior
Fur Coat, 1980
4 of 19

Le Corbusier
Tapestry Design, Entry Gate to The Palace of Assembly, Chandigarh, 1950s
5 of 19

Antonio Peticov
Daybreak, 1983
6 of 19

Achille Castiglioni and Giovanni Pozzi
Camilla Folding Bench, 1984
7 of 19

CÉSAR
Compression
8 of 19

Cory Arcangel
Photoshop CS, 2010
9 of 19

Ellsworth Kelly
Curve XXI, 1978-80
10 of 19

Tom Wesselmann
Bedroom Painting #38, 1977
11 of 19

Gae Aulenti
Outdoor Furniture, 1960s
12 of 19

Joan Miró
Jeune Fille S'évadant, 1967-75
13 of 19

Josh Smith
Untitled, 2013
14 of 19

Le Corbusier
Student housing, Maison du Brésil, Paris
15 of 19

Léon Jallot
Dressing Table and Bench, 1929
16 of 19

Shiro Kuramata
Colorful Terrazzo
17 of 19

Steven Meisel
Vogue Italia, January 1994
18 of 19
