Only a rare few fashion houses are able to design a collection that emulates a feeling. Though, in classic Prada fashion, its Fall/Winter 2019 Ready-to-Wear collection does just that by bringing to life “The Anatomy of Romance.” Continuing her menswear theme of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, Miuccia Prada rekindled that same spirit of love and fear in a bricolage of lace panels, soft utilitarian cuts, and street-style ready graphic knits.
The collection, much like romance, is equal parts dark and idyllic, featuring juxtapositions throughout. The harshness of leather intermixed with soft ruched dresses, elegant rose prints combined with loose-gauge knits, and monster emblems alongside intricate lace, all make the case for a melancholic image of love.
To embrace both the horror and beauty of romance, the collection sought inspiration from the unlikely love story of the monstrous, rejected antihero, Frankenstein and his bride Elsa. With Frankenstein motifs continuing throughout, Prada’s notions of ‘romance and fear’ are made even more severe.
“I would say that it reflects the current world, where there is a lot of danger, a lot of fear, a lot of war around us,” said Prada to Vogue. “Romance is an idea of opportunism, of goodwill, and of good sentiment – the opposite of fear. This is about love stories and introducing something positive. Romance means ideas.”
Shop Prada’s new collection of Saffiano leather bags below.
Style: Imruh Asha
Hair: Christos Vourlis at Bryant Artists
Makeup: Caroline Fenouil at Bryant Artists
Models: Iman Perez at Next Models, Luna Wu at Oui Management, Kate B at Img, Beaudine Drevel at Girl Mgmt
Production: Camilla Fitz-Patrick
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