Prada Menswear Fall 2012 ad campaign,
featuring Gary Oldman, Jamie Bell, Garrett Hedlund, and Willem Dafoe,
photographed by David Sims.
This year's theme seems to be "steampunk". It seems as though they are taking advantage of men's desire to dress like their grandfathers. That is not necessarily a bad thing. It is great that men today want to look great and feel like men. But this year's line seems to go a bit far in my opinion. It looks more like the 1912 collection.
The curiously placed smoking jackets
Most of the pieces do look interesting. However, most of it appears to be out of date. For example, the line features a few smoking jackets. It is rather confusing why they would include these, considering smoking is pretty much out of fashion. This looks like excellent lounge-wear. If you want to relax in your study and smoke cigars while sipping brandy, I can't think of a better way to do it. I do believe the pieces look fantastic, just impractical for the most men. It would look awkward outside of an office setting. You must also remember that these collections are aimed at those who can buy a new wardrobe every season.
Double-breasted suits can be a great way to add a unique new piece to your wardrobe.
However, there are some upsides to this collection. When looking at collections at these, it is important to look deeper beneath the surface. While Prada's collection may not appear relevant at first glance, there are some things that can be taken from it. The most apparent to me is the double-breasted suit. It is not often that you see this type of suit. It is often only worn by those who know what they are doing when it comes to suits. They also usually have deeper pockets, as these types of suits are more expensive. A double-breasted suit is a great way to look your best and stand out while doing it, in a good way.
These overcoats can give you some fresh ideas when looking to spice up your current wardrobe.
The overcoats also caught my eye. While they do look a bit over the top, there can be an important lesson to take away from them. Men's style is defined as knowing the rules and purposely breaking them. This must be done with a certain control and fit your personality so you don't look completely ridiculous. You should add your own personal touch to what you wear. While I wouldn't wear a red overcoat with a fur collar, the small addition of belts and pocket trinkets can definitely spice your outfit up. It is important to note that high fashion is not always the best place to look for the ideal of fashion. Instead, I encourage you to look at these collections and read between the lines. Use these pieces for ideas to develop your own style that fits you like a glove.
