Men's Trends SS09: Prada

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(Style.com)

I still find it amazing that such an incredibly successful mega-brand such as Prada still manages to push the design envelope on such a consistent basis. New Prada collections sometimes initially rub me the wrong way and I warm to them over the season, the way with so many good collections. But that was not the case with this collection, which I liked immediately.

Made up of basic staple items in classic fall colors, the strength of this collection was in the new proportions and the way it was put together. The long layered T-shirts/tunics worn with short shorts (new wardrobe staple) look great in a modern-peasant sort of way, and the cropped tops and sweaters put a fey slant on an otherwise masculine collection. The loose tops that float above the waistbands of the trousers are sort of naive and little-boyish and the thick rubber bands surrounding the black dress shoes are makeshift industrial -- but it's the effortless blending of all this that makes it interesting and fresh.

The outerwear, which looks amazing hitched back on straps to reveal bare chests looks so unusual on guys, but I like this relaxed minimalism and it’s a nice change after years of tight little hipster suits. This is one of my favorite shows of the season, check out my top five looks (plus a shoe).