In a thought-provoking display at Milan Fashion Week, Prada’s Spring/Summer 2025 Menswear collection blurred the lines between reality and illusion with its masterful use of trompe l’oeil details. The runway show, held at the Fondazione Prada, showcased a series of herringbone woolen pants featuring colored belts cleverly integrated into the fabric, creating an impressive optical illusion of genuine burnished leather. This sophisticated deception was further accentuated in the knitwear pieces, with colorful, illusionary collars that paid homage to the techniques of Renaissance masters.
The collection’s overarching theme, as explained by Miuccia Prada, delved into the challenges of discerning fact from fiction in today’s world. This concept extended to the set design, which featured a mysterious, semi-circular white path, a twisting wicket fence, and an enigmatic white shed. The atmosphere was both ambiguous and alluring, evoking images of a secluded beachcomber’s shanty or a writer’s hidden retreat.
Breaking from the brand’s traditional casting, the models that walked the Prada runway were exceptionally youthful, embodying the energy and spirit of the clubbing scene, which was emphasized by the show’s dark industrial techno soundtrack. The lean, minimalist silhouettes were a departure from Prada’s history of intellectual, sensitive menswear designs, and the teenage cast heralded a new era of fresh, forward-thinking fashion.
As part of the collection’s fusion of reality and artifice, Prada presented a dozen T-shirts emblazoned with vivid illustrations of clowns, jesters, wilted flowers, and circus folk, created by French artist Bernard Buffet. Although Buffet’s reputation experienced a dramatic rise and fall throughout his career, his inclusion in the Prada show breathed new life into his figurative paintings, providing a striking contrast to the otherwise subdued color palette of the collection.
In conclusion, Prada’s Spring/Summer 2025 Menswear collection boldly challenged the boundaries between reality and illusion, offering a dynamic and youthful vision of modern menswear. The brand’s dedication to innovative design, craftsmanship, and artistic collaboration resulted in a truly memorable fashion experience, leaving a lasting impression on the fashion industry and fashion enthusiasts alike.
Discover Prada’s Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 Fashion Show by Co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons. Join us live from the Deposito at Fondazione Prada in Milan on Sunday, June 16th, at 2 p.m. CEST. Click the link below and hit the notification bell to get reminded when the show starts.
Prada’s runway shows celebrate and transcend fashion. Embodying the artistic essence of Prada, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons envision presentations that complement the storytelling of each collection, reinforcing Prada’s unique codes through innovative design and narrative-driven shows.
