Absolutely Minimal ... Prada F/W 2007-08 Collection

To be honest, this is my first time reviewing Prada collection in the whole year of my fashion blogging. Minimalism meets chic is what Prada all about. Did you know that Miuccia Prada was once a paid-up member of an Italian Communists party and studies the art of mime at Milan's Teatrico Piccolo?

If most European fashion houses tend to opt for the grandiose looks with elaboration on excessive details and meticulous shapes and silhouettes, put an added bonus of an eccentrically theatrical designer (ehem, John Galliano if you insist) making his grand appearance at the end of the catwalk show, Miuccia Prada is a different story.

She doesn't dress eccentrically like Galliano, Vivienne Westwood or former Italian Vogue editor Anna Piaggi, and neither her designs spells elaboration and excessiveness. Her "less is more" appearance on stage reflects her minimalism designs and so do the designs that reflects her humility and simplicity persona.

On the recent runway show held in Milan, as always, the woman behind the world's sought-after nylon handbags and the inspiration to the box-office movie "The Devil Wears Prada", made her appearance at the end of the show wearing a far-from-what-fashion-bible-recommends simple round neck sweater with ribbed hem in ocher, a lime green box-pleated skirt past her knees, which is far from what the Spring trend endorses, and a pair of double-strapped black Mary Janes. Even the stage doesn't look inviting at all. But this is Miuccia Prada and the minimalism, again, is the essence of the brand.

Working with the color palettes of orange, purple, black, brown and yellow and simple shapes, the collection seemed plain and simple. Double breasted coats, short and long, cardigans with deep v-neckline, outer coat in fluffy black-green fur, metallic green colarless top with long pants, feathery skirts and a simple shift dress with knee-length hem accessorize with a striped beanie were just a part of the entire 43 pieces displayed to the audience 36, Via Foggazzaro, Milan.

Absent at the upcoming collection presentation are the two back-to-back seasonal essentials that according to trend forecasters will remain mainstays for the next Fall/Winter - the belts and leggings. Instead of wearing leggings, Prada substitutes them with pairs of cropped socks pulled to the length of below the knees in an array of colors in black, yellow, brown and more.

Sandal front straps were looking like dual-toned silicone tapes, large clutch bag adorned with feathers, lock bag in green with bow detail, and headband with metallic hardware and silk ribbon detail are the accessories that will accompany Prada's upcoming collection. With less thick furs and never-seen-before fabrics used in this collection, Miuccia Prada again has created a sort of magic in the Italian fashion scene.

Prada's Fall/Winter 2007-08 Collection will be in stores by September to mid-October this year while the latest Spring/Summer 2007 Collection is already available at all Prada stores worldwide.

*Photos by Marcio Madeira for Style.com/VOGUE

Prada - G33, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.