Manolo’s Prada Blog

Manolo says, here is the link to long article on the aftermath of the Helmut Lang leaving his firm after its purchase by the Prada.

There’s little doubt about Helmut Lang’s major influence over the fashion of the last 15 years. Consumers can thank him for flat-front pants, the number of buttons on men’s suits — first three, more recently two — and the spiraling prices of designer jeans and T-shirts. An entire culture of prestige denim was born from Lang’s low-rise jeans with intricate washes, for which he dared to charge close to $200 in the 1990s.

So powerful was his creative leadership that when he said he would show his collections in Manhattan ahead of European rivals, most American designers followed suit, and New York Fashion Week was permanently rescheduled.

Yet the designer, who was once a driving force of minimalism, has found himself in a state of free fall, with his empire being dismantled piece by piece.

Four months ago Lang left the company that bears his name after long-running discontent with the Prada Group, which owns it. In early May, Prada began talks to sell off the business, describing it as unprofitable. In late May, Prada told managers at the designer’s stores in New York and Paris they would be shuttered in July.

[…]

Publicly, Prada executives attributed the slide to declining tourism related to fear of terrorism and severe acute respiratory syndrome and to the strong euro, but not to what some retailers now acknowledge, that Lang’s dedication to minimalism was absolute even as consumer tastes evolved.

“Look at Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, Dior and Chloe,” said Carla Sozzani, the owner of 10 Corso Como, an influential store in Milan, where Prada is based. “That has nothing to do with Helmut Lang. The whole concept of minimalism was very good in the early ’90s, but then for the past several years, people were not interested in that look.”

Another reason for the decline in sales was Prada’s cancellation of a license to an outside company to make Helmut Lang jeans, which were responsible for more than half of the brand’s revenues. In their trademark dark blue or black, the jeans were sold at more than 700 stores around the world. The decision to cut back production was in line with the dominant philosophy of building a designer label through expensive leather handbags and shoes and opening chic retail stores.

Lang said at the time the move would protect the exclusivity of his name. That was the mantra of the luxury industry circa 2000, as intoned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton and other companies.

But in reducing the production of Helmut Lang denim, Prada was in a sense killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. “This may have been good for the image, but maybe not good for the business,” Sozzani said.

The departure of the Helmut Lang, and the subsequent decline of the Helmut Lang brand, it is, together with the similar events at the Prada-owned Jil Sander, among the conspicuous failures of the recent Prada strategy of expansion. Perhaps, the retrenchment into the core of the Prada business it is needed?

Technorati Tags Prada, Helmut Lang

Manolo says, here is the Katie Holmes with her Prada bag, and some unnamed man.

The Manolo and one of the Manolo’s many internet friends they have been looking for this bag with the purple croc trim in the stores and on the internet and have not been able to locate it.

Yes it is the Nylon and Leather Tote, but it has the desirable purple croc trim, rather than the black leather trim.

It is the opinion of the Manolo, yet to be confirmed, that this it is the pre-release of this bag, perhaps given to the Katie Holmes before it appears in the stores.

Technorati Tags: Prada, Handbags

Manolo says, here is the Natalie Imbruglia at the Film Festival of the Cannes in the beautiful red Prada dress. And the shoes are they are perfect for this outfit?

Technorati Tags: Prada

Manolo says, here is the Amber Valletta in the Prada ad from the 1996 or 1997.

The Manolo he cannot tell you how much he adores this gauzy dress with the flowers. Is it not most beautiful?

Technorati Tags: Prada

Manolo says, if you are the girl with the size 6, 6.5, or the size 7 feets, the SmartBargains.com they are selling this handsome and traditional riding boot of the Prada for more than 50% off of the usual retail price.

At this price, it is indeed the smart bargain to purchase the quality item that will long be one of the high points of your wardrobe.

Technorati Tags: Prada, Boots

Manolo says, this blue suede handbag from the Prada it is on the sale at the LoveMyBag.com, over 40% off of the retail price.

Technorati Tags:Prada, Handbags

Manolo says, here is the brief anecdote from the Manolo’s friend Eve at SFist about the the shoes of the Courtney Cox Arquette

As CCA posed in front of the SFIFF facade for photos, we shook off our shame and, in a moment that would make Manolo proud, we asked CCA the question that had been nagging at us since she alighted from her limo.

SFist: Hey Courteney, where’d you get your shoes?

CCA: My shoes? (Here she did that flippy foot thing all girls do when you ask about their shoes. You know the move.)

SFist: Yeah, I love ‘em! (Shut up. We did.)

CCA: Oh, they’re Prada!

SFist: Sweet

Manolo loves it when the friends of the Manolo have the presence of the mind to ask the only question that matters.

Manolo says, these beautiful slides from the Prada, they are only available in the size 8 1/2, however, they are on deep discount sale at the LoveMyBag.com, where they are selling for only $140 of the American dollars!

Truly, if you are the size 8 1/2 this is indeed the super fantastic bargain.

Of the course, if you are not the size 8 1/2, the Manolo he can only offer you the shoulder of consolation, and the wry look of knowing comisseration.

Manolo says, the search for the new Prada key ring, it is over!

P.S. Many thanks to the Manolo’s internet friend the Wendy for pointing the Manolo to this. There is no question that she is indeed super fantastic.

Manolo says, the Time Magazine they have named our muse the Miuccia one of the 100 Most Influential Peoples of the 20th Century!

Creative director of one of the most powerful labels in fashion, Prada is credited with having “provoked and influenced colleagues for years with her eccentric and highly personal sensibility”. Known for having worn Courr?ges and Yves Saint Laurent while handing out communist flyers at protest marches in her youth, Miuccia never expected that she would make such a success of her grandfather’s luggage company. Now running it with the help of her husband Patrizio Bertelli, she has transformed it into a $2 billion conglomerate and her influence on international fashion trends is second-to-none. “Three seasons ago she launched the frumpy Fifties housewife look, which would rule other designers’ runways for several seasons,” says Kate Betts, who pays tribute to Miuccia in the magazine. “In February she stunned the colour-happy fashion industry with an all black collection. Which means that, for now at least, black is the new black.”

Of the course, this it is not the surprise to the Manolo he has long known that the Miuccia she is the influential genius of the first order. Still it is nice that the press of the mainstream they have finally come to this same conclusion.

Technorati Tags: Prada