Every fashion house has its legendary pieces. From academic pleated skirts to nylon bags, from pointed pumps to kitsch-printed shirts, we look back at Prada’s ‘icons’ and how they have stood the test of time.
Choosing five iconic pieces from decades of radical creations is no easy task. Prada’s wardrobe is filled with legendary silhouettes, accessories that went viral long before the age of social media, and textile manifestos that, each season, redefine a new vision of femininity. Here are five Prada icons, among many that don’t just dress us, but help us rethink our very way of existing in the world.
Flame heels: a controlled blaze
Unveiled at the Spring-Summer 2012 runway show, the flame heels stand as one of Miuccia Prada’s boldest statements. Half pump, half design object, these shoes ignite with sculpted flames rising from the back of the heel. A playful nod to the world of 1950s American cars, especially the Cadillac, and to tuning culture.
Reissued in 2018 in neon shades, they took an even more pop-infused turn while staying true to their provocative spirit. Available in both stiletto and platform versions, these heels embody a paradoxical tribute to the American dream, reinterpreted by an Italian designer whose vision of femininity is always laced with satire.
The bag that scores a strike
A clever twist on the most ordinary of objects, the bowling bag made its debut in the Spring-Summer 2000 collection. Inspired by the utilitarian bags designed to carry bowling balls, it quickly became a standout accessory thanks to its rounded lines, retro appeal, and functional edge.
Reissued in 2012 and set for another comeback in 2025, the bag has returned to the spotlight with style icons like Bad Bunny, who carried it in XXL form at the Met Gala. Now an iconic item, it is highly sought-after on the second-hand market, where its rarity and limited reissues fuel insatiable demand.
The Prada headband, a preppy crown
At the Spring-Summer 2019 show, Prada revived an accessory often tinged with nostalgia: the padded headband. Created in velvet, sometimes embellished with pearls or exaggerated in volume, it became a central piece of the Prada look, somewhere between British royalty and the Upper East Side.
Behind its apparent simplicity, the headband is a true tool of staging. It frames the face, elongates the neck, and conveys a kind of gentle authority, somewhere between a crown and a uniform. It is embraced as much by fashion enthusiasts as by the world’s most prominent royals.
A thoughtful feminity
A true archival piece, the ring skirt from the Spring 1999 collection perfectly embodies the Prada spirit. A pencil silhouette, both demure and provocative, it is adorned with metallic rings, solid or hollow, that play with transparency, sometimes fitted with mirrors, reflecting the many facets of the Prada woman.
Camel in tone, midi in cut, knee-length in style: codes that Miuccia Prada playfully subverts in a cheeky nod to Italian femininity conventions. Paired with a long trench-inspired jacket, the skirt has turned into one of the most coveted pieces on the second-hand market today.
The sporty suit, an emblem of functional chic
In one of Miuccia Prada’s most acclaimed collections, a silhouette stood out: the sporty ensemble, offered in blue-grey or yellow green. A short-sleeved zip-up top, a pleated skirt that moves with the body, and a touch of inspiration drawn from traditional Chinese attire.
The Prada logo, in a discreet red accent, punctuates this look designed for a liberated femininity, free from the male gaze. The collection, dominated by natural hues: sand, concrete, terra-cotta, embodied a sartorial manifesto: less performance, more reflection. This tailored set, often coveted by fashion enthusiasts, remains an example of commitment that is both aesthetic and political.
By playing with codes without ever following them blindly, Miuccia Prada infused the Italian house with an almost cerebral dimension. And if these pieces endure across decades without losing their power, it may be because they are not designed merely to please, but to provoke thought.
