With a clear intention to question what women expect from their clothes, the Prada Spring/Summer 2026 collection arrived. Presented in Milan, the show featured a vast orange floor and little else, leaving the focus squarely on garments that were both familiar and strangely altered.
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons started with uniforms. Crisp shirts and sharply pleated trousers — attire often associated with discipline — were paired with satin gloves and glittering kitten heels. The collision of glamour and routine gave the collection its first surprise.
Then came the fragile pieces. Chiffon bras and sheer skirts offered only hints of coverage, floating away from the body rather than shaping it. The dresses were loose and worn without concern for a perfect fit, suggesting that style can exist even when form is unsettled.
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Skirts dominated the collection. Bubble, pleated, pencil, and patchworked versions appeared, sometimes tied with grosgrain ribbons and sometimes paired with rugged coats. For loyal Prada clients who treasure skirts, this was a season rich in new variations.
Outerwear carried the same off-kilter logic. Polo shirts were blown up to an exaggerated size and stiffened into coats. Cocktail dresses with jeweled collars were worn under leather jackets as casually as sweatshirts. The message was clear: refinement need not come with strict rules.
Color had power, too. Tangerine, searing yellow, and other vivid colors filled the runway with a sharp visual jolt. The clothes seemed to suggest that even in uncertain times, brightness is possible.
Backstage, Prada spoke of reacting to a shifting world. Simons added that beauty can be found even in difficult times. Together, their words explained why the collection felt both unsettled and hopeful—an exploration of elegance that accepts instability.
