»prada«

Bad news first: it looks like that the rumors about miuccia prada doing a collection in collaboration with H&M went down for nothing in the end. That sucks.
In an interview with the New York Magazine she answered the question:

What about all these rumors about your working with H&M?
They’ve asked me. I always said no, not because I don’t like the idea, I just don’t like the idea of doing bad copies of what I’m doing. And I don’t have the time, and maybe even the ability, to do a collection with them. If you want to do a collection that costs less, you have to do it with different materials and different ideas.
Why do other people do it?
I don’t know. Because of course they’re attracted by the fame you can get. Just because you want to do something new that people talk about. I don’t know how much real interest there is in doing fashion that is not expensive but is creative.

Well. That's a pitty, isn't it? But maybe there's also a good point in it. I think, we have to respect that she doesn't want to trade quality for affordability. But... you know.

The good news: From April 19 till May 31 there will an exhibition at her Soho-Store in NYC.
"Waist Down - Skirts by Miuccia Prada"
It's more an installation and it tries to draw on the thin line between fashion and art. Which is good. I like that. And I wish I could see it.
The installation was highly successful when it showed last year in Tokyo and Shanghai. It features more than 200 skirts by Miuccia Prada... animated. In the Tokyo exhibition, skirts twirled, glowed, cast funny shadows, spread open like giant jellyfish. The Soho show will be similar, with some new displays. (Source: fashionologie.com)
If you're interessted in further information you should read this article in WWD which is about her exhibition in Shanghai.

First there was Karl, then there was Stella and now I just read that there will be Miuccia following - eventually. That means: PRADA for all of us.

Update 31.03.06:
I've just started to google the web for some further information. On "Manolo's Prada Blog!" I found some hints: Though unconfirmed, word came late Wednesday (which already was mid feb) that H&M and Prada are said to have had initial discussions about the possibility of collaborating on a capsule collection of clothing and accessories. A Prada spokesperson had no comment on the matter. [...] According to company sources, Prada is undergoing several internal corporate changes. The company recently announced that it would be moving its Miu Miu show from Milan to Paris, perhaps in a strategic attempt to distinguish it from the Prada collection, but also to afford itself a path should a possible partnership with H&M solidify.
read full article on fashionweekdaily.com

In an interview on vogue.co.uk Miuccia Prada answered an interesting question:
Q: Would you ever consider doing a line for H&M in the same way as Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney have?
A: "I have talked about it as they did ask me. I think it is an interesting concept and I would love to work on an entire collection using inexpensive materials. What I don't like is the idea of copying the main collection straight out. I think it should be treated as a whole new innovation."

That would not only be terribly exciting, but also and more importantly, one more milestones in the continuing democratization of the fashion.

vogue.co.uk wrote on March 30th:
MIUCCIA PRADA for H & M? Oh please let it be true. The rumour that the Italian fashion house is to follow Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney's hugely successful collaborations with the Swedish store has surfaced again, but still they're saying nothing. "We don't know anything yet and we're not expecting to know for some months," a spokeswoman for H&M, which yesterday announced a 21 per cent rise in profits for the first fiscal quarter of 2006 to £134 million, said. Asked last year whether she would consider the idea of working with H&M, Miuccia told VOGUE.COM that she wasn't anti it. "I have talked about it as they did ask me," she said. "I think it is an interesting concept and I would love to work on an entire collection using inexpensive materials." Her only reservation is that she would be opposed to "the idea of copying the main collection straight out", stipulating that it should "be treated as a whole new collection". H&M's company’s design chief, Margareta van den Bosch, has indicated that Muiccia Prada is one of her favourite designers, and that she is keen to recruit a designer who can also do menswear (Have you seen Prada's star print men's shirts, Marg?). Fervent fashion followers caused chaos at the launch of Stella MacCartney's line at H & M's Oxford Circus flagship store last November, with crowds gathering outside in the early hours of the morning and fighting to get their hands on the fashion gold dust. The chance of an affordable piece of Prada will no doubt see the scenes repeated.
Stephen Doig

Pope Benedikt is a fashionista. He really likes wearing expensive Prada shoes. He's quite interested in fashion and accessoires.
read more on vogue.de

Edit #1: Now I read that he's not only wearing Prada shoes but also Gucci sunglasses. It would be a nice thing for research The Fashionable Pope, don't you think? I remember when I was in Rom 2 years ago there was this really narrow alley where you can only find clothing stores for the pope, the cardinals and all the others. Only the finest gowns. I took a photo. I'll have a look for it.

Edit #2: He may never make the best-dressed lists, but Pope Benedict XVI is nothing short of a religious-fashion icon, riding in the Popemobile the Papa Mobil with red Prada loafers under his cassock and Gucci shades. But his penchant for designer wear and a move to ditch the papal tailors who have dressed popes for more than 200 years are causing new wrinkles in the Vatican. Benedict has favored his tailor from his days as cardinal, Alessandro Cattaneo, and the 20-year-old religious-fashion house of Raniero Mancinelli, which has provided the pope with dazzling new vestments (some with shimmering, sequinlike details). At risk of losing the papal-dress contract are the Annibale Gammarelli tailors, who have made papal wear since 1792. But they blundered when Benedict had to make his debut blessing in a cassock that was too short, ending just above his ankles. Subsequent celebratory vestments made by Gammarelli are reported to have made the pope uncomfortable.
Source: msnbc Newsweek

Edit #3: A short list of Benedikts fashion guide.
+ For everyday and travelling: 1.) a white Soutane (= cassock): a long, close-fitting, ankle-length robe. The cassock derives ultimately from the tunic that was formerly worn underneath the toga in classical antiquity. 2.) a white Zingulum (= kind of belt, latin). 3.) a white Pileolus on top (latin = pileus = hat, also Zucchetto, plural zucchetti, Italian for "small gourd"). A small skullcap. It was first adopted for practical reasons — to keep the clergy's tonsured heads warm in cold, damp churches — and has survived as a traditional item of dress. It consists of eight panels sewn together, with a stem at the top. Its name may derive from its resemblance to half of a pumpkin, or from the fact that it covers a larger "pumpkin" (the head).
+ During colder days: 1.) He wears a red coat, the so called Mantello. In winterdays this coat also comes with a ermine fur lining. Is that P.C.? 2.) On his head he's sporting the Camauro (from the Latin camelaucum, from Greek kamelauchion, meaning "camel skin hat"). Papal camauros are of red wool or velvet with white ermine trim. It looks a bit the hat Santa Clause is supposed to wear. Benedikt XVI. wore it last year shortly before christmas and it was quite a laugher. He was the first pope to wear it again since Johannes XXIII (1881-1963).

Edit #4: Well I just found a very good article about the new pope's fashion affectations on washingtonpost.com. It made me understand the rumors and uproars a bit better: Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, had no use for fancy papal attire. Most often he put on the basic white cassock and white gold-trimmed sash. In winter, however, he enjoyed a crimson wool cloak trimmed in gold braid, at times allowing children to play hide and seek in its deep folds. Yeah that makes sense. All the time reading about this the-pope-wears-prada-issue I was wondering whether there was something about modesty in church and the Catholic/Christian set of beliefs. And something like the voidness of material things, if you come to think of monks living in a monastry, that property is nothing and not important at all. The 78-year-old Benedict lacks John Paul's natural charisma, and the trappings of Vatican splendor may be a way to compensate. But it also sound like Benedikt is a little riot clergyman who has his own head when it comes to fashion and clothing. Have you heard about the sweater mystery? When he came out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to give his first blessing minutes after his election April 19, an inappropriate black sweater peeked out from under the cuff of his hurriedly donned white cassock. Apparently there was no heating in the Sistine Chapel where the conclave was held, and the new pope might have needed some woolen comfort.
Another fashion issue in the news recently: papal hemlines.
During Benedict's first public appearances, his cassock was way above the ankle, revealing white socks and bright red footwear. The hem was soon lowered a few inches, although he still prefers a sporty around-the-ankle look instead of having the cassock draped over the shoes. That is why we saw the designer loafers. And I also read somewhere else that he prefers his own tailor who he knows and works with since his old days as a cardinal. So he's not accoutered by the traditional vatican tailor. And his personal tailor kind of made the mistake with the too short hemline. Which is also funny cause it reminds me to some extent of the emancipation of women starting to wear shorter dresses and skirt because it's much more handy and comfortable.

Oje, oje. So viele neue tolle Taschen. Ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll.
1.) Loewe hat die nahezu perfekte Tasche entworfen, die "Aire". Es gibt sie in 14 verschiedenen Farben und vier unterschiedlichen Formen. Und das tolle, wir als Kunden dürfen selber kombinieren und so Mini-Designer spielen. Wählen kann man - rechne, rechne - aus 56 Varianten. Der Favorit wird dann handgefertigt, extra für einen selbst. Und schon 4 Wochen später kann man sie dann in den Händen halten. Doch alle Taschen haben eines gemeinsam: feines Nappaleder und keine einzige harte Metallöse oder Schnalle, was der Tasche ihre weiche Form verleiht. Perfekt. Das Einzige was einen hindert, sofort zur Kreditkarte zu greifen, ist der Preis: € 735 aufwärts. Vielleicht kriegt man das auch selber hin. Ich nehme es mir mal vor und lass es dann wissen.

2.) Schon seit einiger Zeit geistern sie durch die Modepresse als neue Version der It-Bag: Die XL-Beuteltasche, mit Kurzhenkeln für die Schulter, geräumig und deshalb viel Platz für das Nötigste. Besonders schön ist die von Chanel aus lackiertem Canvas und traditionellem Kettenhenkeln (ca. €950). Auch schön ist die von Aigner aus weißem Lackleder (ca. €570).

3.) Zum Thema "Viel Geld für Plastik" oder "Find ich das jetzt gut oder totale Kacke" hab ich hier was. Chanel warf vor kurzem die "Naked Bag" auf den Markt, eine transparente Tasche, die die Kontrolle am Flughafen erleichtern soll. Chanel hatte netterweise ein Einsehen mit den neuen Bestimmungen zur Handgepäckkontrolle: "No liquids, no lighters, no toiletries". Die durchschaubaren Taschen kommen mit den für Chanel typischen Kettenhenkeln und Logoverschluss daher und ist in 3 Formen erhältlich. Der große Shopper mit Rautenmuster aus Swarovski-Steinen kostet ganze €900. Dann doch lieber der Jutebeutel? Hält auch länger.

4.) Hier war die Idee ganz nett, aber die Umsetzung find ich nicht ganz konsequent. Hogan hat sich mit seiner neuen Tasche dem Rock'N'Roll verschrieben, oder besser versucht. Sowohl die Form als auch der Schulterriemen der "Guitar Bag" sind von der Rockszene der 60er und 70er inspiriert und dem Korpus und Gurt der legendären Fender Stratocaster nachempfunden. Was meines Erachtens nicht wirklich geglückt ist. Der Gurt kommt richtig gut, aber die 2 steifen Kurzhenkel stören die Gesamtoptik. Und sehen zudem aus, als wären sie beim Tragen im weg. Aus geprägtem Nappaleder gibt es sie ab €830.

5.) Eine weitere Anwärterin auf den Thron der It-Bag '07 ist die "Coffer Bag" von Miu Miu. Sie ist in schwarzem, braunem und weißem Nappaleder erhältlich. Als Sonderedition gibt sie außerdem in Wildleder, dafür aber ausschließlich in Hellbraun. Sie besticht durch eine beutelige Form, die aber nicht wuchtig wirkt. Durch eine Klappe mit großer Metallschließe wird die Tasche sicher verschlossen. Während die Tasche im oberen Teil glatt ist, wurde der untere Teil gerafft mit dem oberen vernäht. Versehen ist sie außerdem mit einem geflochtenem Kurzhenkel, der aber lang genug für die Schulter ist und einem langen einfachen Gurt, der etwas unbeholfen daherkommt. Aber den kann man einfach abmachen und zu hause lassen. Unter der Deckelklappe befinden sich außerdem 2 kleine Taschen für Kleinkrams, damit dieser in der Beutelform nicht verloren geht. So brauch man nicht mehr ganz verloren an der Kasse stehen, wenn mal wieder das Handy klingelt und man kramt und kramt und sich schämt, dass man gestern abend wohl nicht ganz geistesgegenwärtig mit jungen Bruder der Freundin nur so zum Spaß peinliche Klingeltöne ausgetauscht hat. Stars wie Keira Knightley, Kate Bosworth, Maggie Gyllenhaal und Jessica Alba sind schon ganz verrückt nach ihr und haben sie bereits zu ihrem neuen ständigen Begleiter auserkoren. Um die €1000.

6.) Endlich wieder en vogue: Stepptaschen. Wobei echte Fashionistas natürlich wissen, das Stepptaschen noch nie out waren. Schließlich ist das rautenförmige Steppmuster bei Chanel ein Klassiker. Aber der eventuell spießige Mief, der an ihr hängen mag, wird nun hinweggefegt von all den anderen zeitgenössischen Designern, die ständig um die Tasche der Stunde wetteifern. Besonders schöne Modelle schufen Burberry, Dior und Marc Jacobs. Letztere - Jacobs "Stam Bag", benannt nach dem schrägen kanadischen Model Jessica Stam - ist wirklich sehr schön gelungen, aber die Ähnlichkeit zu Chanel, nicht in Form aber in Merkmalen, denn außer dem Rautenstepp besitzt sie auch eine Metallkette als Tragegurt, diese Ähnlichkeit macht sie mir gleich wieder etwas abspinstig. Da steckt zu wenig eigenes drin. Jedenfalls auf den ersten Blick. Oder sollte man es besser als Weiterführung des Entwurfs von Gabrielle Chanel sehen, dass Jacobs sie nur als Inspiration nutzte? Die "Celebrity" beschrieb sie als "humorvolle Chanel-Zitate", die eine "super Mischung aus cool und edel" sei. Naja, ich weiß ja nicht. Hübsch ist sie trotzdem - und teuer, ab ca. €1080.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote yesterday, that the pope has been voted to be one the 23 best dressed men in the world. That at least claims the US-magazine "Esquire". I have always known that. Thinking of his magnificent prada-loafers and sunglasses. Also the fact that he always wearing white is just a matter of taste and style. He also won the special price for "accessorizer of the year" - yeah - exactly because of his red prada shoes. I told you.
Besides winner of this list was soccer-pro Tom Brady. Others are US-politician Barack Obama, soccer star David Beckham and Bond actor Daniel Craig.
read more on USA Today