We all know the key players in the big brand fashion world, so it’s no secret of the power and influence that these brands possess. Like many other fashion aficionados, especially the ones like myself who live on a budget and practice sustainability in every aspect of their lives, we simply aspire to own the pieces that are shown on the runway. Or at the very least, we scour stores to find the perfect dupe. My brand is built on pairing inexpensive thrifted and/or vintage items with affordable on-trend items. So as the season’s big trends oftentimes do, they trickle down from right off the runway onto the shelves of fast fashion brands. Thus allowing more consumers and fashion lovers to partake in the joys of what new-in fashion. Although I don’t fully support fast fashion and some of those retailers’ ethical practices, I may have a browse in Topshop, F21, H&M or Zara to see just how good the dupes are.
One particular trend that I had taken notice to this year was the puffy/padded headband. I didn’t necessarily see loads of people wearing them; however, I was seeing the right people wearing. These headbands were perfectly 90s prep (think Clueless), but with nods to the 1960s mod era. There was no question as to who was responsible for this accessory taking off. I knew it’s exact place of reference.
Prada’s S/S 2019 show was heavily influenced by the 1960s and surf culture. Take about duality. Models hit the runways in neoprene tops, biker shorts, rash guard knee socks with baby doll dress and collared with shirts. The collection was a “cohesive clash” of two very different walks of life. When asked about this collection, Miuccia spoke about wanting to show a juxtaposition of it all. Purposely she wanted to communicate her interpretation of our political climate. She expressed that “what’s happening in the world now…we wish for freedom, for liberation, for fantasy. And on the other side, an extreme conservatism is coming.” In a perfect world those with opposing political ideologies could unify, and at least co-exist in one place just as the sub-cultures that influenced this Prada collection do on the runway.
