It’s simple, timeless and modern for Prada

The Jumbo Kingdom at Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Marina is both historic and iconic. It has been the scene of numerous exciting events in the past. But for the first time in its history, a fashion brand, no less than Prada, selected it as a venue for its fashion show. Prada hosted 350 selected guests to view their Spring Summer Collection 2006, and to the cocktail party after the show.

It was truly impressive from start to finish. The moment we alighted from our van, a red carpet sprawled before us and waiters and waitresses were on hand to welcome each guest with a glass of champagne. We, (Melvin Chua, Ben Chan, Miguel Pastor, Paula Nocon, Liza Ilarde, Alex Vergara and I) hobnobbed with Hong Kong’s celebs and sosyals before getting into the ferry boat that transported us to the Jumbo.

Inside the Jumbo, I caught a glimpse of a few people I recognized like casino king Stanley Ho, Bonnie Gokson with Philippine Tatler editor Anton San Diego, Kevin Lee of West East Magazine. Wendy Puyat-Hotung and her husband Anthony, Michele Periquet, statuesque beauty Tess Galang Schoefer with Italian beau Antonio, Audrey Puckett Chiu in a green Prada cocktail dress, Reyna Harilela, who grew up in Manila and speaks Tagalog like a native, world famous DJ Jose Padilla (author of the Café del Mar compilations), Angela Ng, Prada’s dynamic PR executive, among others.

The collection put an end to the ladylike looks of the past three years and took us back to the weird modernity of the early years, with linear cuts and sharp pleats, mostly at the back. Miuccia Prada used deliberately off-key accessories like shocking pink shoes, over-the-knee stockings, tan canvas boots, art deco chunky platform shoes. It seemed she wanted to make the summer sweet dresses look menacing. Prada is perfect at capturing the dual nature of women who want pretty, pale dresses sometimes and stride out in shorts and masculine shirts at other times. There were some feminine, off-the-shoulder dresses, some with beadwork on the hem or on the straps. The colors were in neutral shades of white, beige, black, gray or light blue. The only bright color in the collection was coral pink. The shapes were mostly simple and destructured, a lot of skinny belts and knee-length skirts, which have become Prada’s currency of success in the mid-‘90s. There was really no defining accent, just a grouping of desirable useful things in exquisite fabric. The men’s collection suggested a simple and essential look in neutral colors of beige and brown. The collection was a complex merging of sport, luxury and ‘60s elements, all very wearable without complications.

Looking back at Prada’s collections over the past years, I thought that the secret of Prada’s success is that her lines were very traditional, but with a modern handling. I remember seeing a Prada winter jacket in simple black nylon fabric, but it was trimmed with mink on the collar and the sleeves, which gave it that luxurious look. I remember seeing a trenchcoat in silk faille. The fact that it was in silk made the simple trench coat elegant for evening wear. Her clothes look deceptively plain but have become widely influential. Fashionistas the world over crave Prada’s ice-cool minimalism and deadpan eroticism. This is what Prada is all about: simple, modern, and timeless.