>> Campaign season is here. So far, there have been Spring 2012 ad moments for Gisele Bundchen, Karlie Kloss, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Julia Stegner — and more. See those, plus all the Spring 2012 ad campaigns, in the slideshow — with more added as they arrive.
It was a prints party over at Prada for Fall 2012, where designer Muiccia Prada sent models down the runway in a sartorial symphony of brightly colored geometric designs in the form of dress-like coats over pajama bottom pants, cropped suits with mismatched blouses, and even briefcase totes to match. And for those who might shy away from the bold hexagonal patterns, jeweled embellishments decorated and dazzled on similar silhouettes. Don't forget to watch out for the sky-high Mary Janes and eyebrow-raising shades, which only periodically hid the dramatic no-eyebrow smoky eye makeup look and long ombre locks.
One of our favorite things about Spring? Shoe shopping. Thanks to designers like Miu Miu and Jimmy Choo, there's enough eye candy to lust over for months to come. However, if you're looking to invest in a pair of major standout footwear to go with your warm weather outfits, we suggest you get on it now. These hot styles are sure to sell out fast, so we culled our top 11 picks — ranging from fiery flame sandals from Prada to metallic wedge sneakers from Giuseppe Zanotti — for you to shop, or maybe just look at, now.
>> Trousers, trousers, trousers. That was the message at Prada. Oh, there were dresses, skirts, and coats as well, but mostly it was about the trouser. They were in every one of the collection's 41 looks, hit just above the ankle, and were cut straight — but not too slim. They came in black wool — sometimes bejeweled at the hem — and later, in a mix of Op Art-Brady Bunch-style prints.
Over the last few seasons or so, there have been hints that the idea of wearing pants under dresses was making a comeback — Acne and Opening Ceremony each showed the style for Spring 2012 — but here the concept was the main thesis.
As a whole, it made for an outing that was focused, controlled — and plenty appealing. Silhouettes on coats and dresses were crisp and sharp, and — with their empire waists and a-line silhouettes — youthful. Also youthful and super-appealing: the models' hair, which was long, straight, and dip-dyed in contrasting hues.
From the moment we laid eyes on the purple geometric-designed carpet-cum-catwalk, we knew Miuccia Prada would imbue the Fall 2012 collection with her signature brand of retro quirk and clean lines. Indeed, it was a flurry of bright clashing prints (of all shapes and sizes), bejeweled wares, and ombre dip-dyed hair. The mosaic-like psychedelic prints came a dime a dozen, in bold burnt oranges, purples, and mustard yellows, and were transferred onto crisp suits, long coats (some even with coattails), button-downs, and dresses. When we weren't hypnotized by the plethora of colorful hexagonal patterns, we paid close attention to the intricate detailing given to each look. Long, luxe black coats were adorned with opulent jewel embellishments both on the collar and down the front lapel; similarly, the hems of cropped tailored pants received the same bedazzled treatment. As for the accessories? Models donned sky-high Mary Janes, complete with red rubber soles, carried slick tote bags that reminded us of old-school doctor bags, and wore futuristic aviator-meets-retro round sunglasses. Simply put, Miuccia's Fall lineup was a vibrant play on prints, sparkle, and tailored proportions.
It's Valentine's Day today, and who better to draw inspiration from than one of the loveliest models, Miranda Kerr, who showed off her gorgeous gams in a tweed Willow miniskirt at David Jones department store in Sydney. The gorgeous Aussie styled her ladylike skirt with a sheer white blouse and gray Prada pumps, which are a nice change from classic black or nude. This mini pairs impeccably with red, pink, or orange, making it perfect for the day of amour. Shop like items to mimic Miranda's enchanting style, or if you have a pink mini in your closet, pair it with a white silk blouse, gray pumps, and a hot-pink blazer for a ladylike-cum-leggy Valentine's night.
Remember those funky neon stripes that Miuccia Prada sent down her Spring '11 runway? Well, guess who got her hands on one of the orange-and-black canvas totes? Claire Danes, who was just spotted carrying the bold bag with an all-black ensemble in NYC. It added major punch to her otherwise monotone ensemble, but if Claire's version is too bright for you, there's a blue-and-white version ($745) that would be a totally cool companion for Spring. And because it's blue-and-white stripes, it's way more classic and wearable with all kinds of warm-weather ensembles. It would pop against florals, look amazing with light-wash denim, and add pizazz to any monochrome outfit.
>> Prada's '50s Americana fantasy comes to life in this just-released Spring 2012 campaign video. Lensed by Steven Meisel, the video features models Natasha Poly, Ymre Stiekema, Katryn Kruger, Meghan Collison, Elise Crombez, and Guinevere van Seenus all dolled up and skulking about an old-school gas station. Watch it here, now.
It's not unusual to see a designer smartphone with dumbed-down specs, but the latest entry to the designer gadget lineup seems to be packing both brains and looks. The Android-running Prada Phone by LG is a skinny one (naturally) at 8.5mm thick, and comes packed with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, a 1.0Ghz dual-core processor for speed, 8GB of onboard storage, and an 8MP rear-facing camera so you can snap crystal clear photos of your daily outfits.
The signature Saffiano pattern on the backside adds a touch of class to the phone, while a whole range of Prada-branded extras, including a docking station, Bluetooth headset, and headphones, keep you accessorized. Unfortunately, for those of us stateside, the Prada phone will only be available in the UK for now (at a shockingly low price — free on a two-year contract), but you can fuel your dreams with a better look at the phone in the video after the break.
Pleats may come in a range of styles — box, accordion, and knife pleats are just a few — but no matter what size or shape you opt for, it's a remarkably stylish look for Spring. We saw pretty pleated skirts on the runways at Prada, Jil Sander, and more, proving just how easy it is to look pulled-together and feminine — with little effort required. Just throw on one of these floaty pieces with a simple tee or blouse, then add a chic topper like a knit cardigan or blazer (we especially love the look with a leather jacket to edge up an evening ensemble). When it comes to shoes, pleated skirts look just as great with pointy-toe heels as they do with a pair of round-toe flats; you can also throw a pair of lace-up brogues into the mix for a boy-meets-girl, totally on-trend daytime outfit. Click through the widget below to shop our picks, all under $100.
