The obsession with being famous: Miu Miu SS 2011 ready-to-wear collection

“I was thinking about everybody’s obsession with being famous…” said Miuccia Prada after presenting the Miu Miu SS 2011 ready-to-wear collection, set on a red carpet and to “American Idol” opening music.
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Despite the focus on fame and popularity, the collection did not feel overtly costume-y or theatrical, like some other Prada & Miu Miu collections. Instead, Prada turned retro-femininity into its more polished and modern counterpart, with bold colours, graphic prints, and metallic textures.
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The cuts and silhouettes were nostalgic of the 50s, with A-line midi skirts, cropped jackets, fitted waists, and printed dresses that recall a ladylike wardrobe of the past. As always, Prada is less interested in pure nostalgia — instead, she spins it in her own playful manner by experimenting with prints, textures, and styling.
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The shoes, especially, do most of the talking. Multi-coloured heels, metallic mary janes and thick-soled platforms add weight and humor to the collection, grounding its sugary innocence with something far more eccentric. Similarly, the bags work much in the same way, heightening the collection’s playful excess with their colorful leather panels and bold floral imagery.
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To a certain extent, the styling of the clothing with the accessories feels artificial, glamorous, and a little ironic. As if the Miu Miu girl is trying hard to stand out from the crowd, with her bright prints, eclectic accessories, and witty styling.
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That’s what makes Miu Miu SS 2011 such a memorable collection, once again combining nostalgic motifs with Prada’s musings on the status of modern (pop-)culture.