Prada: Spring 2021

Everything about the presentation was perfection. The music: slightly anxiety-inducing but also weirdly calming. The space: cold in its starkness while at the same time womblike. It was a simple and adaptive environment — shapeshifting between a 50's era couture showroom and futuristic life in a fishbowl.

The cameras (reminiscent of McQueen's 2010 Atlantic show): invasive but also a medium to display some very defiant glares from the models. The direction and use of cameras was fantastic.

Then, of course, there was the styling. Natural hair with the occasional aggressive bang, coast clutched to the chest like a protective blanket, and those perennial kitten heels that feel like a fancy step up from house slippers. With Prada, there's always push-pull, and with Simons she finds a kindred spirit. Vulnerability and rebellion. Technology and nostalgia (hello 90's era black nylon). Modern and archival. Uniqueness and uniformity.

The last dichotomy was the takeaway, for me. In an era of individuality disrupted by something so democratic in its impact, being yourself and embracing a collective goal need not be mutually exclusive.