SimplyAbuDhabi X

1 5 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I J apanese styling has long fed the imaginations of designers. Aren’t we all familiar with the cartoon bubblegum ‘manga’ animation cute look or the knowing yet innocent romance of the geisha and her kimono? Yet somehow when Prada gets hold of all these themes they come back filtered through an imagination that is so uniquely Prada that it has all of the familiar elements you recognise yet looks like no other take on them. This then, is Spring Summer 2013 for Prada. Yes, there are oversized flowers that have been singled out to make a bold statement – appliquéd in silk or wool. But set against Prada’s typically beautiful tailoring, it diffuses the impact from being what elsewhere looks childlike into a clever punctuation or a clue to the designer’s influences. It’s like a secret wink to the wise, you feel smarter for ‘getting it’. Origami also plays a big part in the collection. Pieces fold and fold again, like wearable art and the look is somehow both demure and challenging. These are statement dresses for women that want to make an impact, but not in a bling sense, more like an incredible piece of architecture. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to walk into a room wearing the Burj Khalifa of dresses? Can we see them gracing an Abu Dhabi gala event or restaurant opening, or turning heads on a red carpet? For sure, doubly so now that Abu Dhabi has 260 square metres of Prada ready-to-wear joy in the form of the gorgeous new Prada store in Marina Mall. Designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi and beautifully furnished with cloverleaf sofas by designer Verner Panton, it’s already Simply Abu Dhabi’s favourite place to people-watch on a Friday. But just one more thing on Prada’s Spring Summer collection – let’s say we’re keeping an open mind about the flat soled sock-boots with defined toes. Yes, they’re Prada so we know they’re wonderful and will no doubt be seen in an ‘iconic design of the 21st century’ exhibition soon. But in Abu Dhabi, in summer? We’ll see what the capital’s glitterati make of them before we pass judgment.