In Spades

Style... in abundance

Fashion Friday

Today’s Fashion Friday will be a Fashcap – a fashion recap – of this week’s noteworthy moments.
Nordstrom Sustainable Style

First, Nordstrom now sells vintage!  You heard that right.  As part of their Sustainable Style program, they are carrying pieces from Goodfair.

Think vintage tees and jackets priced from $20 – $80.

A word to the wise – things are selling out FAST.

Between writing this post and publishing it, over 60% of the inventory has been sold.  Act fast.

Fashion Month Trends

With fashion month almost at an end, I’d thought I’d recap the trends for fall/winter 2021.

Let me just tell you that every single trend is perfection in my book.

Layers upon layers

Acne Studios FW21Nehera FW21

Menswear Inspired

Nehera FW21Valentino FW21

Ginormous Handbags

Sunnei FW21Acne Studios FW21Chloe FW21

Neutral palette (accented by pastels)

Max Mara FW21 Palmer Harding FW21 Dries Van Noten FW21

Images (C) IMAXTREE

Fashion Friday

Prada FW21

For today’s Fashion Friday we of course must discuss Prada.

The F/W21 collection walked yesterday.  It was the second womenswear collection co-designed by Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada.

Did I love it?  No.

Did it get better than their debut?  Yes.

Am I worried for the future?  Kind of.

At this point I’m really uncertain if I will see a collection that makes me cry.  Or a collection that sends the “take my money” meter off the charts.

What I liked

Prada FW21Prada FW21

The outerwear: loved the cocoon coats and sequins oversized pea coats.

The vibrant color pairings with juxtaposing gloves and boots were fabulous. The pockets on the gloves were weird and kitchy and totally worked for me.

I’ve never been a huge Prada Cleo handbag fan, but after seeing the ginormous one walk the runway, I’m officially a convert.

What I didn’t like

Prada FW21Prada FW21

There were way too many similarities to the menswear collection.  The idea of knit bodysuits isn’t super appealing to me.  I wasn’t a fan of all of the prints.

The faux fur was my biggest issue.  It just looked cheap and unattractive.  And let me be clear – I am 100% against using real fur.  I just wish the faux fur would have been cut altogether.

Where do we go from here?

Prada FW21Prada FW21

I love Raf.  I think he has a lot of gifts.

But as this second womenswear collection walked, I am leaning more towards believing he will not be with Prada long.  His short stints at Calvin and Dior (I actually loved both) is making me worried that he is in yet another place where he doesn’t quite fit.

In my eyes, his most successful run was at Jil Sander.

So where do we go from here?

Only time will tell.

Images used with permission via (C) IMAXTREE

Fashion Friday

Prada S/S21 Well, you knew this day was coming.  It’s time to review the most anticipated collection of the year: Prada S/S21.

Why was it the most anticipated?  This collection is the first Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada co-designed for the brand.  In the history of Prada’s legacy, no one outside of the Prada family has designed for the label.  So let’s dive into this collection that had everyone going out of their minds in anticipation.

Was I blown away?  No.

Did I enjoy it?  Very much.

Here’s the thing about highly anticipated shows – they almost never live up to the hype.  While there were elements I loved, I think this collection was average for a couple of reasons.

#1

Prada S/S21Prada S/S21

Prada has always been designed with the essence of the current time in mind.  Designing for who the Prada girl is right NOW.  Unlike a Tom Ford or Balmain who would give you glamour, sex and over the top drama in the midst of an apocalypse (nothing wrong with that), Prada is different.

Miuccia and Raf are both very thoughtful designers; I knew what would be presented would be more of a uniform.  In the Q&A the duo gave after the show (more on that in a moment), they specifically spoke to this point.

“We offer a base.”

It’s up to the Prada girl to interpret it as she pleases.

2#

Prada S/S21Prada S/S21

I’m not a spring/summer girl. My favorite collections in history are almost exclusively fall/winter.  As Raf said in the Q&A, “Coats, coats, coats!  Give me as much coats as possible.”  I’m with him.

I also think they knew this collection would be highly scrutinized and as their first collaborative show, they (smartly) chose to reign it in and begin with a fresh foundation.

The Q&A

The post-show Q&A was fabulous.  Anyone could submit a question (sadly mine was not chosen) and I loved that they focused on what it was like to work together.  (I totally thought they would only focus on the S/S21 collection.)

Miuccia and Raf are both soft spoken and getting a chance to hear what they have to say (neither does many interviews) was great.

They spoke about creating a uniform, what is the “Prada-ness,” and fun, energy changing questions like “what’s the first thing you drink in the morning?”  Raf = coffee.  Miuccia = hot water (mother’s orders).  I adored this insight.

The Clothes

Prada S/S21Prada S/S21

The strengths for me were the accessories.  I will 100% be getting the single razor edge earrings with the Prada logo.  I will also be getting a pair of the super pointy kitten heels in a pop color – I’m thinking either orange or lavender.

I loved the cocoon coats and the signature Miuccia pleated skirts with sumptuous knits (many with geometric holes for edge).

A lot of people didn’t like the massive triangular logos found at the neckline, but I did.  I also thought the color choices were so on point.  The deep pink and yellow were my jam.  The secret backpacks and fanny packs worked into coats and skirts were cool.  It gave me an element of functional kitsch I expect from Prada.

Did you see the runway show?  What about the Q&A?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Images via IMAXTREE