Milan Fashion Week Spring 2013: Prada Pleases Its Asian Audience

4:00 PM PDT 9/20/2012 by Merle Ginsberg

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The fashion house has always been arty and edgy, but the spring collection goes so far in that direction it loses a lot of its wearability.

Prada Show Women's fashion week in Milan - P 2012

Getty Images

If you didn't know from business journals and online reporting that designers are selling more clothing in the Asian market than anywhere else, You'd know from the amount of Asian influences in styles over the last few seasons: Asian prints, obi sashas, kimono sleeves, and long wrap dresses. Japan and China are having a huge influence on fashion, bigger than its ever been. But now Miuccia Prada has tipped her spring 2013 Prada collection totally in the direction of Japan. And while it's certainly arty and edgy, it's not exactly practical, wearable, sexy or appropriate for work.

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Prada always stocks their stores with fabulous day and evening dresses, sweaters, and perfect shoes. But what's on the runway, the editorial pieces, are often more artistic than most women can get away with -- unless they're Chloe Sevigny. Prada spring could be confused this time with Commes des Garcons - while Marchesa did literal interpretations of Indian saris, Mrs. Prada did literal obi sashes, origami wrapping of silk and folds, and footwear that's so intentionally not flattering that it's all about art and Japanese design. But not about real life, it seems.

Perhaps some of these black, white or red pieces could be mixed into one's real life wardrobe. The boxy tops and jackets could work well with leggings. But a tight, short white jumpsuit? Mini skirts in stiff silk with photos of flowers on them? Giant red flowers on white coats? There were no red carpet looks here, no long dresses, and it was all shown with cropped spikey hair. Call it Prada's anti-Hollywood collection. It might look good on Carey Mulligan, but for her, they'll amend all the looks anyway.