Milan Fashion Week is underway and Italian fashion house Prada unveiled their Spring/Summer Womenswear 2023 collection on September 22. Collaborating with filmmaker and producer Nicolas Winding Refn (The Neon Demon, Drive), co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons also announced an innovative immersive experience for the occasion. As per Prada’s tradition since the return of in-person events, the front row was a parade of high-profile guests, including Hunter Schafer, Lorde, Kim Taeri, and K-pop star Sana. 

Touch of Crude

The industry can always expect fashionable oddity from the Milanese fashion house, Prada. With eloquent concepts backing them up, co-creative directors Prada and Simmons have grown people accustomed to disruptive, but wearable designs. Their latest effort was certainly not any different.  

Following the theme of “Domestic Voyeurism,” models strutted through a set soaked in neon lights. Behind the guests, faux windows and peepholes decorated the location—Fondazione Prada. There was undoubtedly a futuristic and cryptic air that did not dissipate once models appeared on the runways. Much like previous seasons, Prada presented rather subdued designs in appearance. But just in appearance because the more you looked at them, the clearer the complexities in construction and textile novelty became. 

The show opened up with looks that hinted at a new Prada uniform: slim pants, button-down shirts, and oversized blazers, a combination that repeated throughout the show with different iterations, including a onesie that took slim-fit and work gear to another level. Slip dresses with slits that mimicked a ripped-off effect, loungewear-esque dresses and knitwear followed.

Colors remained classic and toned down with a predominant use of black, gray, pale pink, white, and brown. However, there were occasional pops of color. Honing on the dopamine trend, Prada sent down the runway looks featuring neon green, orange, chartreuse, fern green, and bright pink. Meanwhile, textile interplay came courtesy of translucent fabrics used for skirts, trench coats, and overcoats, mixed with silk and faux leather. 

Closing the runway, Prada’s touch of the avant-garde was present with dresses emulating a crinkled effect, and full black looks featuring long, flowy trails. 

A-list List Of Attendants 

In addition to international celebrities like actress Hunter Schafer, and singer Lorde—who served up golden vibes with her blond hair and gold dress—the front row welcomed Asian stars. South Korean actress and Prada’s ambassador Kim Taeri, as well as Japanese actress Mei Nagano—who is a Prada regular— graced the event. 

Similarly, sitting front and center was the long-time house friend and member of the K-pop group TWICE, Sana. The Japanese singer raised expectations for the show even prior to her arrival in Milan. Departing to Italy, the superstar was spotted at the Incheon airport in South Korea, dressed in an all-black casual look featuring a crop top and shorts ensemble, smartened up with a blazer and a Triangle Bag. It was at the unveiling of Prada’s collection, however, that the pop star caused a social media frenesí, donning a black dress with chain embellishments, accessorized with fern green platforms and a silver clutch. 

Digital Front Row

Although the physical front row became a highly mediatized affair, the digital front row was equally impactful. After stealing the spotlight with their attendance at Prada’s menswear show last June, Prada Favorites Thai actor Win Metawin, Korean pop star Jaehyun and actor Song Kang also joined to promote the SS23 runway from the distance. The Asian icons posed on Instagram posts, decked in full Prada looks, encouraging people to follow the fashion show online. 

Other stars that tuned in to watch the runway were Thai actress Tontawan Tantivejakul, K-pop group The Boyz, and SNSD member Tiffany Young. 

Prada’s Purposeful Front Rows

Last menswear season, we anticipated more global stars joining Prada’s efforts to leverage their presence in Asia. After all, it has been reported that the second strongest market for Italian-made fashion is South Korea and everybody has witnessed the social media prowess of stars from the APAC region. 

With Prada previously ranked first as the top brand in terms of Media Impact Value (MIV®) at Men’s Milan Fashion Week, there were high expectations for their latest collection. It is safe to state that neither the runway nor the front row disappointed. 

Interested in more fashion coverage? Find out how Asian celebrities have become fashion top players.

, , , , , , , ,