Photos: Prada

To this day, things considered ‘feminine’ are usually seen as frivolous and fragile while more traditionally ‘masculine’ subjects are considered strong and more intellectual. For their Fall/Winter 2020 collection, Prada made an exquisite job showing how these clichés of feminine can define strength.

Miuccia Prada wanted to show how what is considered intrinsically feminine can carry authority and show the strength of women. She explored this idea not only in the pieces themselves, but also on the styling of the looks presented. Delicate and very feminine pieces were paired with traditionally masculine ones so they could contradict and propose a new meaning to the clothes.

The pieces were constructed with the idea of exploring complex female identities and also be plural. They wanted to define new forms and new functions. So the pleats were deconstructed in a way they could show skin, so did the layered fringes. The “glamourous” and the “sporty” were combined in one piece.

Prada’s Fall/Winter 2020 collection had lots of grey, black and red pieces. The outfits were severe, but yet feminine. And the (many) fringes were more 1920s than the western we’ve been getting on the past seasons.