Something's Fishy: Prada Presentation Proves an Impediment-Ridden Regression

Miuccia Prada's Spring 2009 season had all the precursors of a massive success: a dazzling sporty, maharaja jewel-laden Resort 2009 showing; the creative juices that surely surged throughout this year – the fifteenth anniversary of PradaMilanoarte; the 2008-minted, now eponymous title as "The Patronness" partnered with all the prestige and pressure that such an epithet elicits (no word yet what The Kaiser thinks); and the well-deserved distinction of being crowned as one half of the art world's "royal couple" alongside husband Patrizio Bertelli. 

In fact Michael Kimmelman is so smitten that he even chronicled her as "a cross between a matron and a naughty schoolgirl... a notorious workaholic, she is courtly, almost flirtatious, likable, at least when she chooses to be, and serious" in March after said "Patroness" proclamation. No pressure.

via Jonathan S. Paul of The Moment Blog | New York Times

Ebullient off the fashion high note of Spring 2008's "Trembled Blossoms" sell-out 'trippy faerie' accessories in stunning succession with Fall 2009's "Fallen Shadows" highly-covetable lace, Miuccia Prada faced the international press today with an 'organical' stripped-down answer to our frightening fiscal times. 

While there are undoubtedly still pieces to ogle (the topsy turvy fetishy heels, the bemusedly brothely bags, and the lustrously flaxen robes de la saison) this Spring 2009 presentation was admittedly a madhat mid-decade regression for Miuccia – and not in her wonted, endearing sort of way. 

... And that's coming from perhaps the most diehard of Prada devotees! 

Meanwhile on the fresh face front: sixteen-year-old Groningen, Netherlands native Ymre Stiekema opened the school of oiled-up models that tumbled their way atop a slippery runway aptly festooned with a school of fish. 

Industry insiders are abuzz over the Prada team's puzzling directional one-eighty of opening with an uncharacteristically classic, decidedly "unawkward" beauty and exactly how that will precipitate in their sweeping post-Sasha Pivovarova vision. 

Ymre – already boasting a Steven Meisel-lensed Prada Linea Rossa Fall 2009 campaign under her trench – has a Prada exclusive this season and will likely also walk (let's leave it to the necklines to plunge this time, hm?) at Miu Miu next week in Paris. 

Fellow sweet sixteener Sigrid Agren of Martinique, France managed to gracefully close the calamitous show (hallelujah!). While the blonde hair blue-eyed beaut may not have nabbed the prized Prada exclusive, Sigrid's future bodes well considering her professional contact list comprised  entirely of Spring 2009 clients – including, but not limited to: Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, doo.Ri, Gap, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Ports 1961, Rad Hourani, Ralph Lauren, Rodarte, and Y-3. 

A nonpareil potpourri indeed considering that this is only Sigrid's initiatory season! Plus not having to deal with the possibility of "wobbling under contract" may mitigate some pressure off Sigrid's peds during her Miu Miu debut! 

Hopefully Prada's Parisian escapade will go over more swimmingly... or rather, less? 

bB

Comments

[Alice]

I was incredibly disappointed with Prada's presentation. Whilst I love the tiny bra tops everything else just looked so haphazard and dated. Some of the fabrics seemed divine (but of course I'd have to hold them in my hand before making that a fact!) but oh, I'm truly upset.

Also I feel terrible for the models and those blasted sock things!?!?

[morethanamailbox]

Ouch.

Weird and ugly at the same time.

Poor models.

[Charlotte]

I think this Prada collection is simply awful. I am very dissapointed, as SS08 collection was great.