When asked about the difference between her two lines, Prada and Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada once said:
"Designing for me is a very complex process. There are many ideas that I want to express in one object, very often contradictory. The creative process in Miu Miu is completely different from that of Prada. Rather than being young, Miu Miu is immediate. Prada is very sophisticated and considered; Miu Miu is much more naïve. The solution, when I am working on Miu Miu, has to come immediately, instinctively, spontaneously with whatever is available at the moment. If I think three times, I stop."
The designer was quoted in System Magazine two years ago, and when I read her explanation, I understood it immediately. But that's not the only reason I appreciate the distinction between the two labels. Aside from the fact that Miuccia Prada explains her art so clearly, she also executes, maintaining very specific aesthetics for each brand season after season. It's not only noticeable on the runway, where the Prada model is mature and equipped with all the essentials, and the Miu Miu girl is playful, her outfit a bit more carefree and thrown together as if to say, "why not?"
You can notice the difference between Miu Miu and Prada when it comes to ad campaigns, the It bags or shoes, and the front-row celebrity staples at Fashion Week. Read on to learn more about each label, and by the time you're studied up, you'll have arrived at the line that's truly right for you — are you a Prada lady or a Miu Miu girl at heart?
Prada was started in 1913 by Mario Prada as a leather goods shop in Italy. Later, Mario handed the business over to his daughter, Luisa. After 20 years, her adopted daughter, Miuccia, joined the family business and officially took over in 1978. Kate Moss walked the Spring 1996 runway for the fashion house, showing off a sophisticated shirtdress with matching T-strap shoes.
Miu Miu was established by Miuccia Prada in 1993, its title inspired by a running nickname in her family. In 2002, a model boldly walked the runway in a printed swimsuit with ruching and eye-catching embellishment.
Called the Saffiano ($2,390), the design comes with a signature key fob and takes a structured silhouette with a top handle.
The striped nappa leather bag ($2,225) has a two-tone feature and a slight biker effect with the addition of a chunky chain.
They're always highly detailed — a little funky but crisply structured. The triple-strap effect plays out throughout the design of the entire heel.
They play to a theme, which starts on the runway, gets infused throughout an entire collection, and is later worked into a casual jeans-and-tee ensemble on the street.
A sugar-pink minibag has a dainty effect. It may be small, but it's special, so women still let it take center stage.
The biker bag collection can be spotted on the streets before any Miu Miu runway show. It is a favorite of girls who love to lend their outfits a bit of edge and don't mind chunky hardware.
Diane Kruger dazzled in this high-neck Prada number with a floor-sweeping cape at the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival.
No one could forget Kerry Washington's strapless pink Miu Miu look at the 2013 Oscars. It came with a beaded bodice and, of course, a feminine bow.
This Knee-Length Dress ($844) is available at yoox.com. In fact, you can't buy RTW Prada online. The collection is just made to feel that luxurious and exclusive. Instead, you can find plenty of old looks on eBay and The RealReal.
This Miu Miu embellished printed dress ($4,450) is from the Resort 2016 collection. From its stripes to its pattern of a naked woman, there's no telling where this mini might be worn.
Sasha Pivovarova photographed by Steven Meisel for Spring 2016.
Elle Fanning photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for Spring 2014.
An homage to the celebs who've recently worn Miu Miu on the red carpet, along with a series of girlie accessories.
George Barnett, Pixie Geldof, Poppy Delevingne, and James Cook at the Prada Fall 2015 show.
Odeya Rush, Sophie Cookson, Jane Levy, Brie Larson, Mia Goth, Imogen Poots, and Miranda July at the Miu Miu Fall 2015 show.
For Fall '16, Miuccia Prada left her woman fully dressed. She definitely didn't forget an accessory before leaving the house, and she isn't afraid of 1940s flair.
The Miu Miu runway was It-model heavy, but each girl looked different from the next. Ms. Prada took us on a trip through the ages, and while some girls showed off '60s denim looks, others were Betty Draper-chic, showing off their twinkle toes in furry slippers. These girls were real go-getters, but maybe they didn't think things all the way through. No matter — they looked highly fashionable.