Why do you like/hate Prada?

[rach2jlc]

i admit that i am a bit confused when people talk about the 'intellectualism' of prada...can someone please explain to me how her designs are intellectual and why people call muiccia an intellectual designer?

I'm not sure if there is a textbook reasoning for her being called "intellectual", but in my opinion, it would go something like this:

Her designs don't and can't appeal to the immediate senses. They're not sexy, nor are they particularly eye catching. For example, when you see some of Tom Ford's designs, or some (older) Versace, or some Dolce & Gabbana, you are often affected instantly on a gut level. You are attracted to it (or the person wearing it) whether or not you could ever wear it yourself.

Not so with Prada. In fact, in many cases, Prada makes you look like an androgynous humanoid. Thus, to find the "appeal", I think that one would have to look to a certain "intellectual" attraction, something that your mind likes irregardless of whether it will work with your physical body. In many cases... it doesn't... but this, too, is part of the appeal (I guess).

Though I like some of the things that she does, I'm not saying I buy into it OR this definition... I think that often it is easier for fashion editors and critics to throw around the term "intellectual" than to actually make "intellectual" clothes, but nevertheless this is my opinion as to what they mean by the word when applying it to Prada.

John

 

[fashionist]

I think prada is good for individual pieces but it's not really a designer where a whole look translates off the catwalk. I find the womens collections to be a lot more interesting where as the menswear is pretty much playing it safe. It's good from the point of view that it's realible, there always seems to be a good prada look each season, and i'm never left thinking OMG what was Miuccia thinking?! as i am with some other designers. There's never any real ground-breaking looks, but that doesn't stop it from being an influential brand, it just seems to gently steer the industry in a certain direction.

 

[orlem]

I've always thought of Prada and Miu Miu as guilty indulgences. I agree with everyone who said that Miuccia is more of a stylist than a designer; she's not particularly innovative. I also agree that she's entirely guilty of feeding consumerism, which I really hate, not to mention the Lang and Sander ordeals. In spite of all that I look forward to seeing the new collections and usually find a couple things I like.

 

[Chuan]

I like Prada classic black bags shoes also!

 

[plumage19]

I found this picture of Miuccia Prada theCostume Institute Gala celebrating Chanel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I think she is wearing a feathred hat from her Spring collection and a printed coat from this year's fall colelction. Looks pretty cool.

Image (http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/content/templates/gallery.asp?articleid=5722&zoneid=3)

 

[LEXI]

I love it by accident. I don't ever go out of my way to buy it. However, whenever I go shopping I always end up coming back with lots of Prada bits. I never thought of myself as a Prada lover until someone sniffing around my wardrobe called me The Prada Princess!!

I asked "what's with the name calling" and as they got counting, shoes, bags clothes and accessories I suddenly realized that ok maybe I am a fan of the stuff!

 

[LeLuna]

I never liked Prada. I find it all to be very trendy and absent of real design. Muiccia is very good at finding trends, I'll give her that, but it seems like she just does the trends %100, she has no real look IMO. Her accessories are atrocious.

I agree about those nylon bags, I never got them. My sister has 2 and they're both practically the same rectangle.

Absolutely.

 

[blackrose]

Those plain nylon bags have ridiculous prices.

 

[JuiceMajor]

luv her for the way she CRAFT her clothes!

 

[ingenue]

yuck ugly prada nylon bags. and wow some made in china

 

[travis_nw8]

personally i don't mind the nylon bags- i have a couple i bought about two years ago and they still get used - which can't be said of bags from other designers

 

[Yanka]

Ahm, speaking of nylon prada bags quality - I bought one some time ago in Brown Thomas (which is Dublin's equivalent to Barneys), as unbelievable as it seems the handles startet ripping after about two months of not very intensive wearing. This bag cost about 400 euro. I bought it solely for that widely discussed quality to carry my laptop hahaha I'm still disgusted. It could not have possibly be a fake. I didn't go to dublin since and they actually refused to exchange it in the local prada store. I didnt even bother repairing it. I couldnt look at prada without contempt ever since. I think miu miu accessories can be cute. Main prada line is horrendous. Wooden sandels - OH HORRORR!!!

 

[dhclam]

I didn't like her when I first started, but, I learnt to admire how she transform from a minimalist (b4 the kittenish s/s00 collection, if i recalled) to Italian grande dame. She challenges people's taste and push you to the possible limit (unlike Rei's CdG). I'll give her credit to the womenswear of Prada & MiuMiu (designed by assistant). One needs to have acquired taste to wear Prada, which isn't easy, but, once you know how to like/ wear it, you'll find Madame actually offers sth a lot more than jux a boring lil blk dress or plain cashmere cardi, 'n her clothes doesn't overshadow the wearer. Plain cardi can be interesting in Madame's hands

 

[nqth]

Do work in the "industry":-) dhclam? Do you mean CdG pushes to the impossiblities:-)

 

[MissAnia]

I usually love Prada's outfits - they are so classy and feminine.

 

[LEXI]

Ahm, speaking of nylon prada bags quality - I bought one some time ago in Brown Thomas (which is Dublin's equivalent to Barneys), as unbelievable as it seems the handles startet ripping after about two months of not very intensive wearing. This bag cost about 400 euro. I bought it solely for that widely discussed quality to carry my laptop hahaha I'm still disgusted. It could not have possibly be a fake. I didn't go to dublin since and they actually refused to exchange it in the local prada store. I didnt even bother repairing it. I couldnt look at prada without contempt ever since. I think miu miu accessories can be cute. Main prada line is horrendous. Wooden sandels - OH HORRORR!!!

I have Prada bags which have lasted me for more than 5 years. They still look as good as new! Nylon bags are actually bad for laptops.

Regardless of the quality; if an item was made for a particular thing & you use it for something else! You cannot expect the maker to be responsible if it goes wrong.
I carry everything in my bags (everything ever made for a woman plus baby stuff) and they are still very much in tact (nylon and none nylon)!

The nylon bags are plane but that’s the whole point! I like that a bag does not have to be loud to make a statement!

 

[johnnykenton]

i just got a prada campus messenger bag for school, and i agree the simplistic nature makes it appealing. and classic. lovesit.

 

[Taylour72]

Prada, it's cute, but i like other lines more though for shoes and bags (i love versaces bags and shoes!)

 

[Ch..ch..aA]

i always love prada (i don`t know why). those color convinations and the boring actitude are really good for me.

 

[Dableu]

I used to love prada handbags color , brown , black, blue , pink...it's so girlish and casual yet bold at the same time. However I agree that their quality is bad..one of my bowler bag handle strap snapped at the seams and I think Miuccia is a great comedian..can u imagine how many sales they have here in Indonesia for a year ? and new collection keep coming up.Seems that you can't wear their stuff more than 3 months...