After the Prada Spring show, we asked what you thought of Prada's bold accessories. Now those accessories are hitting stores, as well as the wardrobes of some very fashionable people. Marc Jacobs wrapped one around his neck in New York, Pop editor-at-large Shala Monroque carried one front row at Valentino couture, and fashion risk-taker Anna dello Russo was spotted carrying one in Milan. We ask you: is this brightly striped stole a fab Spring accessory or just a passing fad?
While nude hues and blush tones dominated the Golden Globes red carpet, it was all about bold, beautiful color at tonight's Screen Actors Guild Awards. Whether it was a sexy skin-hugging dress or a romantic gown, celebs were loving fresh color. Who were the stars of our SAG color wheel? Julianna Margulies and Mila Kunis stunned in rich reds, Jennifer Lawrence absolutely dazzled in hot pink Oscar, and Rosario Dawson was totally fresh in a citron yellow J. Mendel number. Click through our slideshow of the most beautiful and colorful looks from a totally glamorous evening.
>> Miuccia Prada, politician? "Yes, it's true," the designer confirmed when asked if it was true she'd like to enter politics one day. And is she considering the path seriously? "Probably, yes," she replied. "Politics have always been a little of my passion. And now I [could] use my work as a tool to do things other than fashion."
But for now, she's still focusing on fashion, which she says has been made more difficult — creatively — by globalization: "I always say that up until the '70s, fashion was white, Catholic, Western. Now fashion embraces the whole world with [different] religions, costumes, et cetera, et cetera. Before, it reflected the spirit of a small group. There is just one collection, and we don’t make specific things for specific markets, but [the clothes] try to accommodate a world which has become a lot bigger. It’s a lot more difficult in this sense…[but] I think it enriches [the design experience] because it’s bigger."
Because of this need to be in touch on the global scene, Prada is opening design studios in both Hong Kong and Paris this year: "We decided to do this because not everyone wants to live in Milan.…I made a curious twist on the French word flâner, which means that when the people wanted to understand what was happening, they strolled the city. Now people travel the world . . . I’d say it was almost a practical necessity…also it’s clearly an opportunity to get some young minds, fresher minds."
Prada also reads blogs to stay in touch — but not on the computer: "I have reports sent over. Every week I have a summary sent over of the positive blogs, the negative blogs and the interesting blogs. I read them on paper. It’s interesting to see what is making the rounds, what people are talking about. All of our work as designers is to understand what people are thinking, where the world is going, how things work. It’s one of many sources of information.…It’s not that I do it to do my job better. I do it because it interests me.…Definitely everything that leads me to know more about what’s happening probably makes my work more interesting. At least I hope so."
And despite the fact that she doesn't seem to mind the immediacy the Internet brings to information, it doesn't sound like Prada will be pulling a Burberry and selling clothes straight off the runway anytime soon: "I think that, for now, this is the way it is. You can’t avoid it. It’s like being in denial about the future. The future will be even more like this because it’s an opportunity that’s so big and convenient. I don’t use a computer, but I see everyone around me using them. It’s immediate access to information, a way of communicating. I think it’s a real, great revolution, perhaps bigger than the Industrial Revolution . . . Sometimes people criticize us because we aren’t technological enough, because we don’t sell on the Internet…but [to have people] click on a runway show and sell it, I don’t think that’s the essence of the change."
Prada Spring 2011 was one of the most dynamic collections of the season, so we were quite excited to see how the brand would showcase the collection. The vivid stripes and prints are on full display in the print ad photographed by Steven Meisel, but they come alive in the video, which features models like Arizona Muse and Mariacarla Boscono getting their groove on to "Mirando" by Ratatat. Here are both the print campaign and the video: which one appeals to you more?
>> In what may be the best campaign video in some time, Prada Spring 2011 faces Tati Cotliar, Kinga Rajzak, Arizona Muse, Mariacarla Boscono, and Zuzanna Bijoch don the collection's stripes and give their best dance to Ratatat’s 2008 song "Mirando." And don't forget to take a second look at those sunglasses — apparently Prada has decided to do a limited-edition 500-pair run, and they will be in stores starting next month.
Emerald green has risen as the color of the moment thanks to a plethora of stunning green dresses at the Golden Globes. But was green on a comeback even before stars chose it for the red carpet? We think so: bold green popped up on the Spring runways at Michael Kors and Prada. Start adding some green to your wardrobe, but make sure it's that deep, jewel-tone green, like these dangly earrings ($25) or lovely draped dress ($158). We promise you won't hear any Kermit the Frog jokes.
>> The deluge continues; after yesterday's introduction to the Spring 2011 Chanel, Tom Ford, and Marc by Marc Jacobs campaigns, today brings another onslaught — Karlie Kloss's third straight campaign as face of Christian Dior; a first look at Kasia Struss for Miu Miu (Sasha Pivovarova and Querelle Jansen are also said to have been cast by the label); and perhaps our favorite campaign of the season so far, Alex Prager's take on Karolina Kurkova for Bottega Veneta, left.
A new year means it's time to freshen up your wardrobe. Picking New Year's resolutions can be tough, so we went ahead and selected four fashion resolutions for 2011 that you'll have no problem sticking to. Colorblocking brights and long, loose trousers are just two easy ways to amp up your style this year. Watch to see more!
