Since the start of their partnership in 2020, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have presented multiple collaborative collections filled with sensuality and pops of color. FW21 focused on the silhouette and oversized structure, while SS21 was all about neutral tones and uncomplicated styles. But unlike their previous collection, this new era for the house creates an idealized and theatrical version of the workplace uniform by, in Prada’s standards, making it nothing short of unconventional. 

With the theme being “work is a state of reality–a vital component of life,” Prada wanted to emphasize “the value of work to society” by changing the way we perceive uniforms. The collection presents this idea with pragmatic clothing–knits, parkas and more–that utilizes sartorial tailoring and construction to showcase merit, worth, and most of all, the feeling of importance to the wearer.

Respect and value is represented in the usage of leather and silk, and is proposed through fur-trimmed coats and bomber jackets. Meanwhile, elegance and sophistication is shown through the architecture of the clothing, and how it defines shape and form, by giving the body, shoulders and waist more emphasis. In typical Prada fashion, traditional tailoring is used in suits and trench coats, but juxtaposes a variety of garments together. And the palette of the collection, although mostly neutral, has a mix of cool and warm tones of color that celebrate this message of self-importance. 

FW22 has hints of Prada and Simons’ older collections prior to them joining forces, and is a great example of the artistic vision that develops when two powerful creatives come together. Although they both love to tell a story, they also have different ways they present that dialogue. Prada has a history of incorporating futurism in her collections, whereas Simons’ individual label, Raf Simons, is youthful with a slight edge in character and appearance. But together, the pair have shown us that workwear doesn’t always have to be stereotypical, and instead be imaginative of who we are and who we desire to be. 

Prada argues that “actors are interpreters of reality,” and employed 10 globally-renowned Hollywood stars: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Asa Butterfield, Jeff Goldblum, Damson Idris, Kyle MacLachlan, Tom Mercier, Jaden Michael, Louis Partridge, Ashton Sanders and Filippo Scotti. All of whom represented the ways in which clothing can make us feel valuable. 

Watch Prada FW22 below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJDRZE9uxeo/embed]