Miuccia Prada has a special but difficult job at Miu Miu. Her shows are the last big event of the season and show how the whole industry is changing. Because she is in a unique situation, she can give a concluding commentary on how we feel, what we hope for, and what we want in the coming season.
Everything that Prada did this season was based on one idea: beauty. She first used this word to describe the Prada show that she co-designed with Raf Simons two weeks ago. This idea then became a central theme in her Spring/Summer 2024 Miu Miu show, titled “A Rationale of Beauties.” The title pushed the collection’s main idea into the spotlight – the concept that beauty manifests in various forms.
Miu Miu is a canvas of different kinds of beauty
There were people of all genders wearing Miu Miu’s collection, so the show was as varied as the idea of beauty itself. The outfit beautifully combined an evening dress with a beach bikini, actively clashing two distinct styles. These two unique ideas of beauty, often kept separate, fused together perfectly in this ensemble.
Prada really thought about what beauty means in the modern world. She thinks that beauty is a way to celebrate, an ideal to be pursued, and these days, a political choice. The search for beauty makes us feel better and more hopeful, which Prada thinks is very important in this day and age. Because of this, her collection looked at different ideas of beauty, which she sees as the driving force behind the way people think about design today.
Miu Miu’s beauty is a mix of the past and the present
Mixing antique Victorian-style underwear with 1970s beachwear and slim kid-mohair suits created a beautiful blend of past and present. Over brightly colored speedos, models wore chiffon evening dresses in ’20s-style, contributing to an intriguing mix. This fusion of history prompted a reevaluation of different ideas and standards of beauty, leading to newfound freedom. The clothing exhibited a vintage vibe with torn metallic cloqué, dirtied suede, and washed and creased leather, indicating a life well lived by its wearers.
Prada has always said that she loves using historical themes in her designs, not just because they look good, but because they make her think of life and the things she has been through. She called these pieces “pieces of life,” and they did bring life to the collection. They also showed how our lives are right now, with many identities merging.
Working together on art with Sophia Al-Maria
The show was made even better by Miu Miu’s partnership with the Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria. Her work, which was like a tug-of-war between two female alter-egos that stood for truth and fantasy, echoed the themes of this season’s fashion: empowering women, reinterpreting history, and finding hope in hard times. And then, Miu Miu’s show avoided the constant battle between business and art, expertly checking off all the right fashion boxes.