All very interesting and valid points from everyone here. It really is interesting to see such a rapid and explosive identity crisis at Prada.
I feel like Spring/Summer 2011 (the Monkey/Banana collection) set a course that they stayed on for far too long and they're still riding on that wave. Even though each subsequent collection initially reads as a 180* from the previous season, Prada is still pushing the same QUIRKY and CARTOONY aesthetic. There's no rest for the eyes! The hair is wild, the sunglasses are wild, the earrings are wild, the layers are wild, the socks are wild, the multiple bags are wild, the shoes are wild...and it's all on one look down the runway! It exhausted itself very quickly and yet they haven't moved on from that same formula.
I don't believe that Prada has lost it for good - she's too much of a thinker to be counted out of the game, that's for sure. She's far too interesting. What I see the problem is is that what has always made Prada so unique is something that is just simply not valued currently in the fashion climate of today. Flashy, over-designed, over-styled, gimmicky, oversized, childish and juvenile, clashing fashion is the game most designers are playing today, and Prada just looks like she's trying to keep up and figure out how to play that game in her way, but it just doesn't suit her. I respect that she's trying in the sense of putting out the effort to remain relevant and keep up and continue to challenge herself and explore new territory, but it's just proving to be an odd fit.
And in regards to Prada's social media presence, again, I think it's just another symptom of the times not being conducive to Prada's DNA...social media is inherently a pretty unintelligent platform, and Prada is intelligent. It is hard to navigate Instagram and how that's going to represent you as a brand when the principles of that platform are anything but discreet, stylish or interesting - all the things you stand for. The brand either needs to figure out a unique way of presenting itself on social media - instead of playing the game - or just bow out. If Celine can skip Instagram, so can Prada, if they so chose to.
Also - when it comes to the disconnect of what's on the runway and what's in stores - I've actually always found it to be really interesting to check out the Prada stores and see how they style the seasonal runway pieces in a much more realistic and approachable way. The more outrageous the styling is on the catwalk, the more I appreciate the in-store merchandising. Say - a runway embellished and fringed skirt, but now on the sales floor paired with a classic white shirt, maybe halfway unbuttoned, paired with a simple black nylon parka, some classic Prada ribbed stockings and a smart ankle strap stiletto. I always wonder why the look can't be shown that way on the runway? It's a potent look and very stylish and maybe people are buying less and less Prada because the runway looks are styled in such an unrelatable manner that there's simply no desirability factor, and therefor no reason to pop into the Prada shop when the collection hits the stores.