THE JOURNAL
The pieces to get before the MR PORTER team beats you to it .
It’s no secret that Prada is something of a fixation in the MR PORTER office right now – we’ve even gone so far as to dedicate this entire issue of The Journal to it. You won’t be surprised to hear, then, that our staff were among the first to shop the Italian brand’s new collection when it finally went live this week. Here, a few members of staff share their long-awaited purchases. We just hope that in the rush to fill our own shopping bags we didn’t prevent you from securing a piece or two for yourself.
As far as show pieces go, this pair of Derby shoes is incredibly versatile. With the removable kiltie (FYI: that’s the correct terminology for the fringe that covers the laces), it can easily be adapted to suit any occasion. As a born-and-bred Mancunian, I can lose the kiltie and venture back up north without fear of being ribbed mercilessly by my friends. Paired with black slim-fit selvedge denim jeans and a navy Prada blouson jacket, unassuming observers will see nothing more than sensible, rubber-soled Derbies. For more formal occasions (read: inside the M25), I can let my suave side run free and embrace the kiltie, sported with a grey Prada suit and dark grey Prada cashmere knit.
I’ve hankered after a sheepskin jacket for a few years, but have been nervous of looking like a second-hand car dealer. What stops a sheepskin coat from looking too retro or clunky is the fit and the colour. This chocolate brown one veers away from the lighter shades popular in the 1970s, and the short cut and neat shape make it both modern and flattering. Although these days we like to call everything an investment piece, this jacket truly is. It will always look luxurious and will work just as well slung over a sweater and some jeans, as it will teamed with smart grey flannel trousers and a crisp, pale blue shirt.
“All cashmere is equal, but some cashmeres are more equal than others”, is what Mr George Orwell’s Napoleon would say if pigs wore jumpers (and could talk). One day in the future, we’ll be able to reach into our mobile phones and touch the clothes we covet, and when that happens, we’ll need to quadruple our order of this piece because it feels absolutely incredible. It’s versatile, too, looking equally at home with tailored trousers and Derbies as it does with skinny black jeans. And while the dégradé design is eye-catching, it’s not one that will age or go out of style. Be quick, this one won’t be around for long.
As with all self-respecting creative directors, my wardrobe is a highly perfected lesson in the controlled art of navy, black, dark blue, grey, dark grey, midnight blue and charcoal. But every so often something comes along that talks to the inner Mr Hyde, and what finer item for a bit of Indian summer peacocking than this Prada 1950s-cut, camp-collar shirt in an eye catchingly bold sailing print. Worn open over a white tee, with loose navy trousers and a reassuringly reserved midnight blue jacket, this is finally the one piece that will reveal my inner artist.
After we’ve ordered our stock, there’s a long wait – as much as six months – before it all comes through. I have a tendency to pore over our orders in the interim, just to keep everything fresh. With Prada, this tendency has become a full-blown obsession, to the point that I could probably recite the entire selection off by heart by now. So, when asked to pick my favourite piece, cutting it down a list from 10 to just one was nearly impossible. Nevertheless, I’ve done it. With 1970s-inspired track tops one of the key trends for this season, this was hand-on-heart the best iteration I saw.
Practical, sophisticated, understated. These are the qualities that I associate with Prada, and they’re present in abundance in this leather-trimmed backpack. It’s spacious, functional and cut from sturdy shell fabric, and thanks to its minimal looks, it’s equally great in the gym or at work. The go-to backpack: often imitated but never bettered.
To say I’m massively excited about Prada coming to MR PORTER would be something of an understatement; I’ve been counting down the months, weeks and days, and iconic styles like this are the reason why. I always knew I was a trendsetter on those walks to school, and now finally I’ve got my chance to show the world I was right all along. Made from seemingly indestructible nylon puma, this has made it finally OK to wear an anorak again. The reversible blue lining keeps it sporty and means it’ll work just as well with a sweatshirt and jeans at the weekend as it will with a cashmere knit and black trousers for the office.
Illustrations by Mr Joe McKendry