Prada S/S 2016

Mood board: Moody, melancholic and rawly feminine, Miuccia Prada took her spring collection away from the sugary retro beat of late and into something a whole lot darker and more dramatic. Vertical stripes were a recurring theme, spliced onto deconstructed, tailored tweed skirt suits, intarsia’d into strips of coloured python and even onto mock-crock boxy jackets and skirt sets collaged together from strips of leather, suede and shiny patent.

Best in show: As usual, we were spoiled for choice in plucking out the best looks, but the finale series of coats, boxy suits and dresses that came showered in sparkling 3D embroidery were surely a standout.  Prada used flat plastic discs, flowers, crystals and oversized beads to create blankets of jingling all-white jewels on white garments that looked sent straight from heaven.

Finishing touches: Where to start? As usual, the array of accessories was endless and the originality off the charts. Some of our favourite shoes were the flat ballerinas that featured huge silver balls and colourful ribbon ties. Meanwhile the ears all came dangling with gigantic spheres that looked like mid-century Japanese paper lighting designs, while the models hair was slicked onto the sides of the face in an aggressive but intriguing glue game.