Miuccia Prada never fails to intrigue or inspire with her intelligent designs, but her spring show truly struck a cord with fashion insiders and stylish civilians alike. This season, the designer took Prada in a futuristic fifties direction via a selection of Bermuda shorts, transparent cat-eye sunglasses, and touches of nouveau Hawaiian-style prints. (Think: airbrushed palm trees and sunbathers on the sand in turquoise, lavender, and pale lemon.) Of course, Ms. Miuccia wasn't doing super-kitsch—au contraire dear readers—her brand of summery chic is unquestionably sophisticated.
This time around, Prada primarily stuck to a pre-Technicolor palette of gray, black, and white, occasionally juxtaposed with the aforementioned prints. The collection managed to include both minimalist lines
and ornate touches; pieces like a crisply cut shorts-suit in graphite dutchess satin were followed by madly embellished items, like a transparent cage dress made from crystals. In fact, contrast was a major point all the way through the Prada show. Even the beauty look played off the collective coolness of the collection: a hot combo of ultra-glossy orange lips and bedhead pigtails adds some much-needed warmth to all of those steely grays and clear accessories!
We wanted to round up some products that share Prada's back-to-the-future spring sensibilities in a very wearable way, so we sought out similarly sleek shorts, Lucite accents, and a vivid orange gloss to replicate the runway look. After a long quest for this artifice par excellence, we're certain these fabulous finds are the key pieces for the Prada look and hope you argree!
1. Wendy Shufitz Oversized Clear Frame Sunglasses ($75)
While Prada's much-buzzed about collection of six limited-edition
Postcard Sunglasses ($205) is mostly sold out and difficult to find, you can approximate their look with these see-through frames. Currently in stock, Wendy Shufitz's take on transparent shades is perfectly executed and super affordable too. Forever 21's
F3794 Sunglasses ($5.80) are another ultra-inexpensive option for those of you who want to spend even less.
2. Rose Cha Submerged Watercolor Maillot ($298)
One of the most important components of the
Inspired By: Prada look is to include an occasional pop of dreamy prints, which is why this beautifully ruched one-piece is an ideal pick for today's story. The retro shape fits with the show's overall vibe and the pastel floral print has the same escapist vibe as the runway pieces. If you want to add a patterned pop through an accessory instead, check out Diesel's
Tie Dye Printed Over-Body Bag ($76); it has similar sensibilities!
3. RGB Cosmetics Nail Polish ($14) in Haze
The models may have worn clear acrylic nails at Prada, but we think this smokey violet polish from our friends at RGB would have been an equally lovely choice. The lacquer is as serious and stormy as the Prada palette, plus it's an unexpected choice for a summertime mani/pedi.
4. Topshop Lip Polish ($12) in Melba
The exact runway lip look was created by the one and only Pat McGrath, who used a combination of Cover Girl
Outlast Lip Stain ($8) in Coy Coral, Laura Mercier
Lip Colour Crème Lipstick ($22) in Truly Red, Make Up For Ever
Lipstick ($19) in Flourescent Orange, and Make Up For Ever
Glossy Full Couler ($19) in 2/Tangerine to achieve the knockout shade. While McGrath's a genius, to be sure, you might want to try Topshop's new Lip Polish instead. Melba—a glossy orange— will approximate the look and has the added benefit of only being a single product.
5. French Connection Luscious Twill Pants ($88)
As mentioned before, the slim Bermuda short is one of the key items in Prada's S/S 10 collection, where it was styled with cropped jackets or belled sleeveless tops. We found a few likeminded styles for you, like French Connection's high-waisted twill version, which has cute cuffs and subtle pleating. If you prefer a flat-front style, don't miss Banana Republic's
Bermuda Shorts ($49.50) or Gap's
Bermuda Shorts ($39.50).
6. Stuart Weitzman Seawatch Sandals ($355)
In addition to breaking out your see-through sunglasses, you should also try a Lucite-like heel to emulate the runway's fixation on clear accessories. While it's possible to track down some of the show's
Perspex Heeled Sandals ($529), we think you should save your search time and pony up for these Stuart Weitzman ankle-strap heels instead. The sturdy heel and sleek silver accents add up to one cool shoe!
7. Bodkin Nimbus Tunic ($288)
Many of the looks at Prada offered the designer's interpretation of summer business chic. This chic cotton chambray tunic is in perfect keeping with the collection's sensibilities and would look equally stylish in the office or on your off-duty outings.
8. Blu Bijoux Bubbles and Chains Necklace ($45)
If you're not going to pick up one of Prada's bejeweled shells, you can create your own version simply by wearing an oversized Lucite necklace over your favorite gray sleeveless top. Blu Bijoux's iteration of the Lucite necklace is a must-try; the large clear beads will make a modern statement no matter what you wear it with. Miuccia would totally approve.
Prada runway images, courtesy of First View
Jump to read the next story
.
TAGS: Inspired by,
Prada,
Stuart Weitzman,
Wendy Shufitz
.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.