When Prada introduces a new trend, you know that you’re going to be seeing different iterations of it on runways for the rest of the year.

Miuccia Prada has unveiled her autumn/winter collection for 2019, using a well-known novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, to tackle themes of humanity, danger and chaos.

The theme is appropriate for our contemporary moment where the news seems to focus almost exclusively on themes of humanity, danger and chaos as antisemitism, xenophobia and fascism consistently dominate the headlines.

Here’s The Guardian:

“Frankenstein is an example of a monster with a big heart, so that was the main idea,” said Prada after the show, citing author Mary Shelley’s themes of humanity, danger, chaos as central to the appeal.

On the catwalk, this took the shape of intarsia knitwear that appeared to be roughly stitched together with a large red heart on the chest; shirt prints of limbs; and multicoloured shearling that appliquéd deer-hunter hats, epaulettes and knitwear that Prada said was “a part of the madness”.

Let’s get it out of the way now – Frankenstein was the doctor who created the monster, not the monster himself.

We are aware, even if Prada isn’t, so everyone can calm down and focus on the fashion:

Prada was drawn to Shelley’s work because of the difficulty that she had in publishing it. Unlike Shelley, Prada’s gender has had no effect on her ability to be heard.

The social and political commentary she explores through her work has made her one of the most revered figures in the industry and has elicited calls for her to become a politician, she revealed tonight. Her manifesto for this collection circled ideas of reaching boiling point, anger and despair, she said, which needs little joining of the dots.

“[As a designer] you have the problem of how do you translate what is happening outside in fashion without being pretentious – you can’t be pretentious in fashion. I am aware of all the problems but we are still a luxury company, so you can do a lot. But I always have to be careful of what I say.”

Several of the outfits, both menswear and womenswear, had a strong military theme. Prada incorporated khaki coats and long padded bomber jackets with plenty of practical box pockets and compartments.

Suiting was strict and made compact with belts that resembled regalia. Elsewhere, backpacks came strapped across the models’ chests keeping them handsfree and ready for action as they walked to a soundtrack that featured Timewarp, Tainted Love, and Dance Macabre (the Jonathan Creek soundtrack to you and me).

This year, the standout motif came in the form of lightning bolts that evoked a futuristic sci-fi theme while also speaking back to the iconic novel.

I want to take a moment to appreciate and then recoil from the shoes in the above image which, like the monster, have the sex appeal of Crocs.

Financially, the luxury brand is doing incredibly well following a drop in sales in 2014. Its digital sales have experienced double-digit growth and are on course to reach 15% of total sales by 2020.

You can get on board with the trend by checking out the Prada Postcard sunglass collection. if that’s your thing.

[source:guardian]