Miuccia Prada has carved out a brilliant career by marching to the beat of her own drum. Like a true visionary, Prada’s artistic sensibilities have consistently been a few steps ahead of everyone else. The Italian designer extraordinaire, who in her youth studied pantomime and aspired to a career in performing arts, has openly confessed that she has deliberately created ‘ugly’ clothes that ended up looking adorable.

This season in accordance with her famous mantra, “In the end fabric is fabric. What is really new is the way you treat it and put the pieces together” Prada has reinvented herself in unforeseen ways. Wiping sleek, prim clothes, defined by rigorous tailoring and a dark color palette, off the slate, the gifted modista has embraced loose, white-washed, minimalist clothes.

Prada’s new collection is constructed to deny women overt sexappeal. Over sized tubular garments, cast in dull neutrals, form the backbone of this lineup. Starting the show with a long, white, standing collar masculine shirt, doubling as a dress, worn over a pair of grey thigh-high stockings-- ready to pool around the ankles-- Prada foreshadowed a long procession of demi-Communist looks. The accordion pleat A-line skirts, leg of mutton sleeve blouses, deep-v sheath dresses, and duster coats that followed denounced fit and form.

The best pieces on Prada’s spring 2006 runway were a string of beaded off-the-shoulder girly dresses infused with an innocent delightfulness. Referencing the Prada archives, this group conjured up the endearing charm which made the label an instant hit with the masses.

Indeed, innovation is Miuccia’s forte, but in the wake of terrorism, wars, and natural disasters, this suggestion of lackluster minimalism is uninspiring and misplaced. Today, is the day to employ the make believe of moda to uplift spirits.

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