The Milan Fashion Week schedule might be jam-packed with mega-brands and trend-defining shows – but it's Prada that we're always on the edge of our gilt seats for.
Well, for AW15, Miuccia Prada, the queen of subversion, says it's all about a skewed take on pastels and ladylike chic. 'Sweet but violent,' as she said after the show, which took place in a series of rooms painted in delectable ice-cream shades of pistachio green and sugar pink. Even the pre-show canapés were colour-themed to match. They might have looked like sweet iced confections – but the delicate pink and cream cakes turned out to have a savoury twist. Just like the collection… here are the key Prada themes to take away.
1. Fitted Sixties tailoring
Neat, cropped blazers with oversized lapels teamed with crease-front cropped trousers and A-line skirts, sleeveless dresses and double-breasted coats with unexpected details like fur panels down the front and contrast collars.
2. Off-beat colour combos
Yes, yes, we know we've already said it, but Miuccia's masterful way with colour made for a standout palette as always – this season, sugary pastel pink and pale camel mixed with pops of teal and mustard, for a Sixties-with-a-twist feel.
3. Pouff prom-girl dresses
For party season, the short dresses with voluminous pleated backs were just perfect for playing the swan-necked Sixties socialite – complete with slim straps and brooch adorned with layered ribbon bows.
4. Giant crystal brooches
The oversized crystal brooches in the shape of flower stems that were pinned to coat and jacket lapels and dresses gave the collection a Mad Men dressing-up-box feel . Not to mention the flowery crystal clips that caught the girls' sideswept ponytails into a new take on the bun – how darling!
5. Clumpy shoes
You can't have a Prada show without a fugly shoe – that's just the rules, fashion fans. The perfect counterbalance for the saccharine little-girl sweetness of the clothes, the shoes heading straight up AW15's lust list are blocky, squat-heeled Mary Janes. That or leather ankle boots with chunky corrugated soles for the fashion-fearless among us.
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