Prada Spring Summer 2025 Menswear “The Power of Reality in a World of the Imaginary”. Story by RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: Prada.
In a compelling showcase today in Milan, the Prada Spring Summer 2025 menswear collection, masterminded by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, presented a thought-provoking discourse on contemporary notions of truth and pretense, reality and illusion. This season Prada delves deep into the dichotomy between the real and the imagined, drawing inspiration from the existentialist art of French painter Bernard Buffet.
At the heart of the collection are two primary looks adorned with Buffet’s haunting depictions of clowns, specifically “The Clown Jojo” and “Clown with Pink (Pointed) Hat”. These pieces serve as more than just clothing; they are a canvas for existential commentary. Bernard Buffet, whose life was shadowed by despair until his tragic end in 1999, used his art to expose the deep-seated anguish of human existence. His disdain for the average person, whom he found “wicked” and “ugly,” resonates in the grotesque yet captivating visages of his clowns. These figures, with their exaggerated features and melancholy expressions, dramatize and magnify humanity’s inner traumas.
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have expertly translated this emotional intensity into their menswear designs. The collection prominently features paintings on clothing, integrating Buffet’s clowns into wearable art that speaks volumes about the human condition. This artistic infusion not only highlights the connection between fashion and art but also underscores a profound narrative about authenticity and facade.
One of the standout elements of the collection is the innovative use of painted belts on pants. This clever design choice blurs the lines between reality and artifice, a recurring theme throughout the showcase. Leather jackets take on new dimensions with the addition of leather hoodies, seamlessly attached to the jackets, creating a layered look that is both practical and symbolic. The leather hoodies serve as a metaphor for the masks we wear, echoing the hidden emotions and concealed truths that Buffet’s clowns so poignantly reveal.
This collection is a testament to Prada’s ability to fuse high fashion with deep philosophical inquiry. By juxtaposing the raw, unsettling realism of Buffet’s clowns with the refined craftsmanship of Prada’s designs, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons invite us to confront the uncomfortable realities beneath our polished exteriors. In a world increasingly dominated by curated personas and digital facades, this collection challenges us to reflect on the authenticity of our own expressions.
The Prada Spring Summer 2025 menswear collection is not merely a presentation of fashion; it is a narrative woven through fabric and paint, a dialogue between the seen and the unseen. It invites us to question the nature of our realities and the masks we choose to wear. In doing so, Prada reaffirms its position as a visionary in the fashion world, continually pushing the boundaries of what fashion can convey and how it can make us feel.
As the final models walked the runway, the audience was left with a lingering sense of introspection. The power of reality, in a world of the imaginary, is a theme that resonates deeply, challenging us to seek truth in a landscape of illusions. Through this collection, Prada not only pays homage to Bernard Buffet’s artistic legacy but also redefines the role of menswear in contemporary culture, making a bold statement about the intersections of art, fashion, and existential reality.