Prada heads for colourful territory

Prada has gone bold for its spring/summer 2011 women's collection.

There was nothing understated in the colours (orange, green and royal blue), the stripes (bold) and the patterns (from bananas to cherubs and monkeys). But there were also frills for a more feminine touch.

Miuccia Prada's skirts were tight-fitting and to the knee, but matched with looser jackets or tops, some echoing the men's collection presented in the summer with V-necks that evoked doctor shirts.

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The outfits were paired with wedged sneakers high enough to give basketball court advantage.

The look became decidedly more girlie when a thick frill was added to the bottom of the tight skirts, providing a swirl of soft motion.

The motion did not stop there: horizontal striped dresses were paired with vertigo-inducing striped sombreros slung over the neck for maximum contrast.

Dresses were fitted, with bold patterns and lots of stripes, often alternating in both colour and thickness, with a stripe of fuchsia to grab the eye.

And then there were the patterns: paired monkeys on a white background gave a whimsical touch.

While the cut of the clothes was urban, the message was Caribbean; fun and loose, an attitude backed up by the fabric: cotton.

In keeping with the mood, bright tropical fruits of marzipan were available for viewers after the show.

Even the sun dresses had a structured look about them. Thin straps and deep V-backs left plenty of room for peek-a-boo, while tassels on the hemline beckoned.

The little black dress made an appearance for evening, with feminine ruffles around the gentle necklines. Lest anyone think, "Ah, black dress, seen that", Prada added fun furry wraps in black-and-white stripes on a colourful background.