Oriental Flower Power

"Dream is forbidden, nostalgia is forbidden, to be sweet is not good. Everything we used to feel historically, now you can't enjoy. The clothes are the expression of this impossible dream."

                                                                                                     - Miuccia Prada

After much anticipation, Prada's Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection finally showed in Milan, Italy this past week.Always the one to convey important underlying messages, Prada's collection centered around the struggle women  have trying to balance being strong yet feminine at the same time. To exude both toughness and delicacy would be like an impossible dream.

 Models strut down the runway, feminine flowers in exuberant reds and oranges decorating the severely structured garments which start in a dark color palette and as the show progresses, shifts to pastels. Yet a dark undertone remained consistent throughout.

 Japonisme was the major theme of this collection, seen in the kimono like silhouettes, origami inspired fold details, Japanese flowers, major color palette (red, black, white, pink) and geisha inspired thong platforms.

Areas of Inspiration:

HISTORICAL

 Drawing inspiration mainly from Japanese culture, Prada also mixes in hints of the sixties era in order to create this "impossible dream." The sixties were a time when feminists started to emerge and women began to fight for their equal rights. In Japan, women were expected to be feminine (think geishas) and their male counterparts had the upper hand in all matters. These women struggled between maintaining their femininity and having the rights they believed they deserved.



Prada Spring 2013 RTW
Style.com

  In a sort of "I am woman" fashion, the models depicted how women can be strong, fierce individuals while still retaining their femininity. Prada does this by starting the show with garments in dark colors in sharp, structured silhouettes, giving off a tough girl vibe but added  printed and appliqued floral designs to soften the image and show the poetic side of a woman. As Miuccia Prada stated herself, "It's about feelings. There are two opposites-rectangular shapes, with folds, very geometric; with the flower as a symbol, of poetry, sentiment, community..."

ART



Prada Spring 2013 RTW
Floral decoration
Style.com

  


Flowers of the Four Seasons
Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture
Google.com/Images 

ORIGAMI

   

  

   
  

    

                                                                           

 CULTURAL

Traditional Japanese Kimonos

 

 Prada's Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection was a darker, Oriental take on sixties flower power. Heavily influenced by the Japanese culture, the designer looked to meld the two sides of women (femininity and strength) into one, making the "impossible dream" very possible.

To see the inspiration in action, check out the runway show for yourself:

 http://video.wmagazine.com/runway-collections/prada-spring-2013

     



Fashion Week Sans Prada

         New York Fashion Week kicked off September 5th as leaders in the fashion world such as Marc Jacobs, and Oscar De La Renta showcased their Spring/ Summer 2013 collections. However, as Fashion Week comes to a close, one wonders: Where was Prada?
         The European design house known for it's contemporary, clean work wear aesthetic did not show at New York Fashion Week. Why? That is the question on the minds of spectators this week.Other European design houses were also not in attendance like Versace but showed in Milan. Perhaps luxury brands are seeing their demise in the fashion industry. Miuccia Prada has yet to make a statement as to why Prada's collections were not shown but that could come out in the aftermath so stay tuned!
        However, like the other European design houses absent at New York Fashion Week, Prada had shown it's Resort 2013 and Spring 2013 Menswear lines back in June 2012 at Milan Fashion Week.

Check out the Spring 2013 Menswear collection runway video here:
 http://www.style.com/video/fashion-shows-by-designer/prada/1896809764


   

At the last minute, Prada incorporated female models which added a sense of depth and mystery to an otherwise bland collection. As you can see the collection was very minimalist with an emphasis on the relaxed silhouette for the upcoming Spring season. Once again, flat shoes seem to be trending seen here as unisex sandals. The two tone pants seem to be trendy as well, done in a more business way in this collection. It was overall very repetitive in nature which leads room for interpretation. Was Prada making a statement about how clothing all looks the same nowadays or was it signifying the equal roles of men and women in society?


That same aesthetic used for the Menswear line carried over into the Spring 2013 Resort collection. Although there is a pop of color here and there, the outfits including those god awful sandals are all identical.

* All pictures courtesy of Stylesight.com

Fun with Fashion

Hello my fellow fashion-seekers!

My name is Amy Murphy and I am here to inform you on some of the hottest fashions for this upcoming season. I am currently a senior at Johnson & Wales University majoring in none other than Fashion Merchandising & Retail Marketing.

Now, I'm not going to claim my passion for fashion started as a young girl playing with my barbies. Let's be serious, that's rarely the case. In fact, I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian, crime scene investigator and according to my elementary school yearbook a superstar! A kid can dream can't she? But on a serious note, many people don't discover their passions until later on in life and there is nothing wrong with that. I didn't know a career in fashion was for me until my sophomore year of high school where such shows as Project Runway and Fashion Police inspired me. Ultimately, my main goal is to work as a visual merchandiser or a buyer.

Let's get into why I'm starting this blog: I am very passionate about writing, always have been. I wrote my first "story" when I was 8. Maybe it didn't win a Nobel Peace Prize, but I was pretty darn proud of myself. I have always scoured fashion magazines (Instyle anyone?) to read the articles and gain inspiration. This blog is a perfect way for me to mix my passion of writing with my passion for fashion to educate you guys about some hot new trends and how to wear them. This will also be a great piece to enhance my portfolio and who knows;maybe I'll become a fashion writer one day. Oh the possibilities [insert dreamy sigh]. The fact that this is 30% of my final grade for my Fashion Forecasting Class could also be an influence as well.

I will be posting as much as possible but I am a busy person: work, class,studying, trying to maintain some type of social life. Ya know, just your typical college student. But you can expect a post one a week, every Thursday from yours truly.

I would love to hear your thoughts as well so feel free to comment!
What inspires your fashion sense?

Until next time, fashionistas!

"Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It's not about the brands. It's about something else that comes from within you."  

- Ralph Lauren