Miu Miu’s FW23 collection is giving gen Z office chic, but make it frazzled
Paris Fashion Week (PFW) might have come to a close but there’s no doubt that the legacy of the Fall/Winter 2023 season will assert itself in the trends to come. From shorter-than-short micro-mini skirts to ballet flats that got us rooting through the attic for our old school shoes, Miuccia Prada is the queen of viral pieces. The latest Miu Miu runway is no exception as it introduced the shockingly irresistible glitter bloomers within a collection made specifically for the chic, dorky girls of the world. This is a trend that definitely won’t be dropping off our radars any time soon.
After Miuccia Prada and Raf Simmons came together in 2020 as co-creative directors for Prada, Miu Miu is the only brand exclusively run, and founded, by Mrs Prada herself. The label, affectionately known as Prada’s little sister, gives the designer a chance to reminisce about her younger days.
The show, which took place at PFW on Tuesday 7 March, saw Mia Goth, Zaya Wade and Amelia Gray becoming quintessential Miu Miu girls as they strut down the runway, looking as though they were shattered after a nine-to-five shift in the office.
Of course, house ambassador, Emma Corin was in attendance on the runway. Nepo babies Nicola and Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham were also spotted sitting in the front row—all gen Z favourites.
Key motifs of the collection include coloured tights and leather mini dresses that parallel JW Anderson’s Polly Pocket-inspired clothes for Loewe, reinforcing the sustainability initiatives behind having key staples that last in your wardrobe. Embroidered 3D flowers, which also featured heavily in the show, proved that summer still leaves its mark even at the start of those colder autumn nights.
The Miu Miu logo was small but present throughout, marking a shift from unobtainable and impractical luxury fashion to a more commercial approach. Overall, the collection is simpler than past seasons, but is it a sign of gen Z taking the steps toward adulthood?
The collection also hinted at coquettish office girl chic, with buttoned cardigans and midi skirts featuring heavily on the runway. Kitten heels—in a Carrie Bradshaw sense, as opposed to Theresa May—gave bog standard office footwear a more playful revamp. Bigger bags were also central to the collection as boxy, practical shapes dominated. Could we finally be saying goodbye to the Y2K micro bag?
As we all know, however, the way you look as you start your working day isn’t always the same as how you end up looking coming out. Miu Miu challenged the clean girl aesthetic with a slightly dishevelled approach to styling its FW23 collection. Models’ hair made a celebration out of bad hair days, organza gowns were subtly puckered, cardis were caught up in tights, and exposed underwear (a Miu Miu constant since SS22) paid tribute to the ever-relatable Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Several pop culture parallels have been made in connection with the standout collection. Some netizens have referenced Nanny from 101 Dalmatians. Others appreciated the nods to holy grail rags to riches flick The Princess Diaries, particularly the moments which capture Mia Thermopolis before she becomes Princess of Genovia.
Trend forecaster Mandy Lee, known on TikTok as @oldloserinbrooklyn, refers to it as ‘The Ugly Girl Trope’. It would be hard to look at the collection without also being reminded of noughties Kate Middleton. Previously a fashion icon reserved for the older generation, Depop girlies have recently been delving into old paparazzi pics of the future Queen for inspo.
@oldloserinbrooklyn Miu Miu fall winter 2023 collection review. Bit of a mixed bag for me, what did you think? #miumiu #parisfashionweek #runwayfashion #fashiontrends
♬ Luxury fashion (no vocals) - TimTaj
Royal nostalgia truly hit its peak when Middleton stumbled out of a club into the back of a taxi, or wore yellow hot pants and leg warmers to an 80s-themed roller disco. Depop top seller, Remass , launched a collection dedicated specifically to the Princess, and not long after, the entire drop was brought up by the costume department of Netflix’s The Crown.
If you can’t wait to recreate some Miu Miu FW23 looks, try searching for cashmere cardigans, neutral midi skirts and sheer blouses on Depop’s more affordable cousin, Vinted.
So, there you have it, the Fall/Winter fashion season is over for this year. With it came a flood of neutral tones, longer hemlines and lots of knitwear contrasted with glitter pants. Miu Miu gave smart-casual office dressing a relatable spin and said: “It’s okay for your hair to be in disarray!”
