They said make useful clothes sis: Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada's Vogue Interview
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This week - well following day because I’m feeling generous - we cover Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s latest interview, my angsty playlist and Vogue US’ winter issue.
They said make useful clothes sis: Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s Vogue Interview
Vogue Business caught up with the lady and lord of chic earlier this week. The interview was an interesting reflection on fashion vs art, Raf Simons’ decision to close down his brand and provided insight into how the two (who began their singular collaboration at Prada in 2020) work together in “creative harmony”. Whilst I have my reservations about the brand and Miuccia herself (I mean, Prada had to get bloody racism-sensitivity training following on from the blackface fiasco in 2019) she addressed something important in luxury fashion.
“What I really hate at this moment is fake creativity. Creativity for nothing. Creativity without a clue. Basically, useless stuff”
- Miuccia Prada
Luxury fashion houses operate in this fantasy-like realm. Mostly due to their weighty name, some brands can create ostentatiously expensive and useless garments and sleep with both eyes closed. There can be a lack of functionality and necessary realism in their clothes. Both designers believe there is a real commercial purpose to fashion and don't necessarily consider it solely as an art form (they have their own reservations about whether it should even be defined as an art form).
“We are a company that is making money by selling expensive clothes… so pretending [by creating] useless stuff? I think it is better to make sense to people”
- Miuccia Prada
“I think one of the things that has changed drastically in fashion is that it is a business that can operate without a strong creative animal”
- Raf Simons
Both Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s sentiments make for interesting dialogue. Ultimately designers can interpret useless v useful and practicality in their own way. Yet, it is still important to question this new era of fashion. Fashion is exclusively considered to be just business by those who think it’s a fast way to excite and make money without harnessing proper creativity.
J W Anderson’s latest fun shoe in collaboration with Wellipets, set to debut in Milan at their Autumn/Winter show, is leaning on the 'I’m not sure if this is useful' side. Then again, rich people spend money on all sorts.
C’est la vie!
Playlist of the week: Pure Angst
Stop the madness: Vogue US please stop…
It’s astounding how Vogue US can have the people’s princess, Florence Pugh, and this is what they decide to do.
Why is she holding a fish? It’s rather comparative to American southern men on dating apps displaying their latest catch on their profile. Maybe that’s what they were going for.
Also, I saw her in person at the British Fashion Awards last month (internal scream). I’ve put my slightly stalkery photo below.
But in other news, W Magazine you’re doing great sweetie!
