Prada Presents 60 FW26 Looks with Just 15 Models on the Runway

For Fall/Winter 2026, Prada took a radically pared-back approach. Rather than staging a large-scale runway spectacle, co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons stripped the format down to its essentials, using reduction as a conceptual tool to explore the passage of time.

FW26 has quickly become one of the season’s most discussed collections, not because of grand production, but due to its sharp emphasis on styling over volume. The show functioned as a study in restraint, demonstrating how fewer elements can yield deeper narrative impact.

The designers worked with a tightly edited cast of just 15 models, including Bella Hadid and Achol Ayor, who collectively presented 60 distinct looks. Each model walked four separate rotations. With every return to the runway, they removed one outer layer to reveal a new ensemble underneath. This deliberate structure mirrored the realities of everyday dressing, multifaceted, honest, and open to evolving identity.

The front row was equally notable, featuring Karina, Wooyoung, Namtan Tipnaree, Pond Naravit, Caitlin Clark, and Sarah Pidgeon, among others.

The collection itself examined the physical traces of time and wear. Tailored outerwear appeared intentionally distressed at the edges, exposing hidden fabric layers beneath. Fringed knitwear and controlled discoloration introduced a calculated sense of “decay” to pieces that remained fundamentally wearable. Sheer tulle layers were draped over heavy zip-up sweaters, creating a striking contrast between ethereal lightness and grounded utility.

As the outer layers were peeled away, entirely new realities emerged. Removing each garment revealed sparkling crystal embellishments over minimalist tops, subtly disrupting the polished authority of classic tailoring. Footwear followed suit: kitten heels were embellished with sequins, while vibrant feathers were stitched onto boots, adding unexpected tactility.

With FW26, Prada moved away from overt fantasy dressing and instead embraced an existential realism. The collection offered a contemporary sartorial blueprint, one that reflects cultural shifts and acknowledges the layered complexity of modern identity.

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