Prada SS26: Industrial Elegance with a Playful Twist

Miuccia & Rà

Prada always brings all fashion icons together and this season, it felt like the ultimate midweek staple. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons returned with yet another collection rooted in intellectual elegance. I was so excited for this one, especially after last year’s jaw dropping heels!

In a pre-show interview with Interview Magazine earlier in the month. Raf Simons reflected on the wider fashion calendar this season, packed with designer debuts and major switches.

“Honestly, it's a special moment,” he said. “There are so many designer switches and hires … the September shows, it's going to be a bit of thunder and lightning. You just have to do your thing … and that’s what we do.” Miuccia added, “What I’m aiming to do is really push more of what we started saying in the men's collection. I feel a real twist in fashion.” They know full well they can do whatever and people will still take the time to watch because it's Prada!

As kindly shown by @stylenotcom on Instagram, the invitation for this season was unreal: a grey hardback box that opened to reveal a small silver metal wallet embossed with the Prada logo. Inside: the invite. Chic and industrial. Setting the tone. And the invitees were of course the most famous faces, including Charli D’Amelio, Sadie Sink, BTS, and of course Anna Wintour - the buzz was in the air. 

The venue set the mood immediately: a large, very industrial-like space with sky-high ceilings and concrete walls adorned with burnt orange-toned metal structures. Huge columns lined the centre of the room. Some walls had a clean, white, industrial finish - it felt utilitarian, almost sterile, but in the best way. And of course, the resin-covered orange floor. Very Prada.

Watch the livestream of the show here:

Or see the full collection here: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2026-ready-to-wear/prada/slideshow/collection

The show kicked off with bold utility-style jumpsuits: two twin looks in navy and bright blue, paired with slicked-back hair and gloves. Later came an olive green version, matching the factory-floor energy of the venue to perfection. It was a strong, cohesive start.

Then came more colour, lace skirts with layered ruffles and textured finishes. Lime green made its debut in Look 7 (below), opening the floodgates for an array of vibrant tones. Yellows, blues, reds, greens. Hints of teal and even bubblegum pink. The colour combos were unexpected but worked surprisingly well. Take Look 18 (below): a boxy mint green dress with an embellished neckline, under which peeked orange ruffles. The contrast shouldn't work… but it shocking did.

ABOVE - LOOKS (in order) 7, 18, 40

Textures were everywhere. Cotton clashed with satin, silk met lace - but never messily. It felt deliberate, controlled, and visually exciting. Look 22 featured a boxy pink silk mini dress that caught the light with every step. Everything had a slight offbeat charm but remained totally wearable.

The shoes? Kitten heels. On every model, which was understated but classically Prada with just basic black and white tones. Loved them.

Loli Bahia (Look 33 - below) glided down the runway in a white jacket and orange-detailed skirt - another favourite. Honestly, the skirts were everything this season. From the tailoring to the texture play, they were standouts. We saw lace mixed with cotton, pleats paired with ruffles, and every combination felt fresh. 

Another key detail? The silk gloves. They came in every shade: light blue (53), purple (7), mustard, yellow (18), champagne, pink (17), olive green - they kept reappearing across looks. This consistent accessory tied the whole collection together. Despite the range of styles, the colour palette bled beautifully from one look to the next. That sense of continuity made the show feel like one long sentence - particularly in the final walk around. 

Favourite looks: 3, 8, 10, 11, 18, 21, 27, 33, 35, 37, 40, 43, 51. Every single one had something exciting going on.

ABOVE - LOOKS (in order) 8, 33, 37

However, Look 37 (above) was a major standout. The skirt? Ethereal. Layers of fabric and texture all worked into one piece. A buttery yellow front panel with tiered ruffles, alongside a sheer black lace section, next to a pleated grey officewear-style panel. So many stories in one skirt, but it felt seamless. It was tied at the top with a black ribbon. Genius. This tiered-skirt technique appeared a few more times throughout the show and honestly? Obsessed. Look 8 (above) did it too with a black pleated panel, orange centre, and baby blue ruffles.

The finale, when all 53 models circled the runway, was breathtaking. The collection flowed. It was wearable, but not boring. Elevated, but still rooted in reality. Raf and Miuccia struck that Prada balance: basic enough to be Ready-to-Wear, bold enough to be occasion wear.

It was distinctly Prada - but with a fun, modern twist. It was colourful, clever and cohesive. Raf and Miuccia have done it again. And the applause as they stepped out at the end? Deserved. (Miuccia is so cute.)

With love,

Mimi x