Both bags are totally opposite in style but same in green leather with gold hardware. I am a sucker for green so I think both bags are equally gorgeous! If you are allowed only one this season, which one would it be – Prada Pyramid Frame Bag (USD2,950) or Gucci 1970 Shoulder Bag (USD2,190)?
Images are courtesy of Prada and Gucci
It is not an entirely exaggeration to say that Miuccia Prada is the ultimate fashion maker. There is something about wearing Prada that makes one not only looks good but also feels so on the inside. Prada Fall 2012 is what I would call celebrating fashion at its core, which is about having fun and liberty to express one’s self. New designers might come by every season but Prada remains the ultimate fashion maker in Milan and maybe to certain extent, overtaking Paris as the years go by. I will just let the pictures of the bag speak for themselves while I am being floored and awed.
Images are courtesy of style.com
How do you make fashion out of antique cars as inspiration? Only Prada knows how and well, if you are getting a little tired over clean and simple fashion from the likes of Celine and Jil Sander, ironically, Prada Spring/Summer 2012 is the perfect anti-thesis for that. Why ironic, you might ask? Simply because Prada was the master of simplicity fashion back in the 1990s but seeing the 1950s inspired collection for the Spring 2012, one could not help but appreciate the duality and element of surprise that is Prada. This is, in my opinion, exactly why Prada remains the ruler of Milan fashion. There are only a handful of other designers in Milan, Paris, NYC and London this season, whose collection is as uplifting as Prada.
As for the bag? the frame bags are surely the order of the season (what else do you expect from the 1950s?). Then again, why settling with its classic Saffiano or Vernice leather re-incarnation that might potentially run you into a “done-it” situation when you can have this exquisitely bejeweled frame bag that is one of a kind (Price is USD3,990)? We need glam back in fashion and people continue dressing up without worrying about whether the clothes can last for more than one season. On that note, I am also happy to report that most of the pieces from Prada this season does it without having to fall into the category called “classic”. Just see for yourself!
Image is courtesy of Saks
Over the past few seasons, Prada has been banking on its Saffiano leather line of bags to make sweet success and it seems to be a great move. Prada Saffiano is one of the most iconic leather choices in the market. It is classic, tough and highly scratch resistant, which means low maintenance. This particular model was originally released only in Hong Kong and some other countries in Asia to commemorate the Prada IPO launch earlier this year. Due to its success, the bag is now in Prada’s resort 2012 line-up. I have tried on this bag myself and boy… I love it! The bag comes with a detachable shoulder strap, which comes in really handy. The bag is now available in many colors to choose from: pink, grey, black and gold among few. Price is USD1,810 at Neiman Marcus.
Image is courtesy of Neiman Marcus
Named after its landmark store at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, the Prada Galleria bags might just become Prada’s most iconic bag. Despite constantly being one of the, if not the most respected Italian fashion house, Prada never really had an iconic bag in its collection.
The Galleria bag does have all attributes of an iconic bag – timeless design, simplistic but unique shape and could be reincarnated in various materials and colors season after season. True enough, I have seen this bag being toted more than any other Prada bags since its first launch a few months back. This is clearly a good sign of success.
The standard issue comes in Prada’s signature Saffiano leather, price starts from USD1,560. I have “played” with the Ostrich version in Prada store a while ago and boy… it was divine with its SGD13,000 price tag. Both the croc and ostrich versions are available on made to order basis. Price for the croc version starts from EUR23,000. Love it? I am lusting over it!
Images are courtesy of Prada
The “timeless” move that has re-emerged over the past few seasons due to the gloomy economic condition will drive the fashion industry to its grave sooner than later. While it is good news for houses like Hermes, Balenciaga and Chanel to continue leveraging on its classic pieces only by coming up with new colors, Miuccia Prada has proven yet again that it had to be her to lift the whole industry out from the state of flux. Yes, we are all aware that year 2012 is not going to be good news for European economy so people have to start shopping and dressing up in trend again to turn it around! You see those very seasonal pieces up there on Prada runway? Yep, be ready to shelf your classic Birkins, Chanel flaps and Balenciagas because you will need a new trendy bags come this Spring and the bags from Prada seem perfect!
Images are courtesy of style.com
Seriously?? I mean I really love Longchamp Le Pliage and regard it as the most accessible semi designer bag that does not look cheap but for Prada to copy it is just incomprehensible to me. Prada has slacked lately and been producing cheap colorful nylon bags which are good as crowd pleasers but it is about time the brand will get diluted if they keep going down this road. Will you pay a Longchamp-lookalike Prada bag for 10 times the Longchamp price? I will NEVER. Price is SGD1,450 in Singapore.
Image is courtesy Prada