Today is 1st August. For many people, August signals the very height of summer. People are disappearing left, right and centre off to strange tropical destinations and returning looking like something that's been left on the barbecue for too long. The nation is steadily consuming its own bodyweight in Pimm's. The smell of burnt sausages, cut grass and factor 15 mingles with the sound of ice cream vans trilling out their merry tunes. The month of August is indeed the month of the British summer.
But for fashion folk, the arrival of August means that summer is over. Oh yes, by mid-July the spring/summer collections are becoming but a memory; the sales are fading out the last of frothy dresses, swimwear and sunglasses, and being replaced by a bevy of deliciously wintry new stock: thick woollen coats, snuggly knitwear, hardwearing leathers and sturdy boots aplenty. It is time for the autumn/winter collections to work their magic on the high street. Before long you won't be able to move for camel coats, aviator jackets and velvet.
So I thought it would be a good idea to champion what has been one of spring/summer's most successful and influential collections, before I am completely sucked into my desire for a Burberry-esque leather aviator (want, want, want). That collection is Miu Miu, the little sister of Prada, but by no means the ugly duckling of the family. I admit I did not take all that much notice of Miu Miu until a couple of seasons ago, when it began to branch out from solid accessories into some seriously good and, crucially, individual collections. But it wasn't until spring/summer '10 that Miu Miu became a serious frontrunner among the fashion elite. Admittedly when the models first stalked down the catwalk back in September, kitted out in clothes emblazoned with a mixture of cat, dog, lady and swallow prints, all 60s lashes and huge comical platform shoes, I didn't foresee quite how influential this collection would become. But even then it certainly stood out among designers focussing on serious cuts and pared-down silhouettes.
Fast forward a few months and suddenly you couldn't move for Miuccia's adorable prints. They have adorned the forms of a wide range of celebrities, including Chloë Sevigny, Mischa Barton, Kirsten Dunst, Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung and, as you can see below, the gorgeous Keira Knightley:
I've chosen this outfit, worn back in March, because I think it illustrates perfectly the allure of Ms Prada's cheeky prints. The reason this collection appeals to such a variety of people is because it perfectly treads the line between demure and edgy. By contrasting a simple, classic silhouette with an eye-catching print, the clothes allow you to look fashionable and interesting without stepping out of your comfort zone. Miss Knightley is a case in point. She has never been one to venture too far from her classic, feminine style, but still manages to keep her outfits firmly out of boring territory with a nod to the current trends. This classic skirt and blouse combo is flattering, feminine and timeless, but were the pieces simply block coloured, would lack much interest, and would probably have landed Keira in the 'safe' fashion camp. Simply add a cheeky naked lady print, however, and voilà, suddenly she's terribly au courant.
What I love most about the collection, though, is not its versatility, wonderful though that may be, but the fact that it is so fun. The mischievous prints imply a certain carefree joie de vivre, perfect for fun summer nights spent sipping strawberry daiquiris with friends. Which is why I was so desperate to get my hands on a look-a-like. Luckily for me the high street quickly recognised Miu Miu S/S'10's star potential and produced a bevy of beautiful copycats (geddit?). The first one I fell in love with was a delightful navy cat-print dress from Zara, a steal at £19.99. Sadly I was a little late on the bandwagon and it had sold out by the time I had set my heart on it. But luckily an even more beautiful substitute was soon to pique my attention:
This little beauty is Asos's Cat Print Playsuit, now just £25. Its monochrome colour palette means it's not too out there, but the cute print keeps it from being too safe, and feels a lot more now than a boring old polka-dot would. And who doesn't love a playsuit? I think I'll be veering away from Miuccia's models' huge plaits and exaggerated lashes and instead pairing it with loose centre-parted locks, nude heels and a little bit of leather. And I reckon I can get away with it for easily another month or so, at least until the nights grow cold, the Pimm's runs dry and the barbecues are all rained off. Still, maybe after that I could just chuck a lovely aviator jacket over the top and carry it on through to autumn/winter... purrrrfect!
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