More Miu Miu!

Earlier this week I wrote about the fantastic architecture and elegant design of Prada and Miu Miu stores around the world. Just today I got an email announcing the opening of a new Miu Miu store in Las Vegas. How apropos!

The email came directly from Miu Miu and if you’d like to be on their mailing list as well you can sign up here.


The store looks spectacular wrapped in the Miu Miu print. This is, no doubt, another design of Mr. Roberto Baciocchi’s. I love the chrome detailing on the back-lit gold façade. It gives the retro look a cool futuristic feel that is so Miu Miu.


And look at those clothes! A sheer, beaded, cap sleeved, printed-bra-on-top, but conservatively-lengthened-to-the-knee dress. What can I even say? How about, I will never have anywhere appropriate to wear this dress but if I had the money I would buy it anyway and just wear it around the house after work and on lazy weekends spent inside on the couch. That’s basically what I do with my pink and red patent leather Miu Miu wingtip pumps anyway.


Gotta love those prints!

Prada Architecture

Over the past few years I have visited more Prada and Miu Miu stores around the world then I can count. My intention, most frequently, is to browse the new collections and to pick out the most beautiful handbag, swing it over my shoulder, and study my improved reflection in the nearest full length mirror. However, I have found more then just fashion in these stores – I have found design and architecture!

Possibly the most famous Prada store is Prada Aoyama in Tokyo. It was designed in 2003 by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron best known for bringing us the Olympic Bird's Nest in Beijing. Prada Aoyama is six stories of diamond shaped glass panels; some flat, some concave, and some convex. The detail creates the illusion that the building is moving as you walk around it and also appears to magnify the clothes displayed behind the glass.

Prada Aoyama

When I visited the store it was April of last year and they were showing the Fall 2009 collection. Remember the fly-fishing boots with the shorts? That was a good collection. There was a lot to see and I visited every floor.

Prada Aoyama

Another big architecture name in the world of Prada and Miu Miu is Rem Koolhaas. Along with the settings of many Prada and Miu Miu runway shows, he is also responsible for the award winning Prada Soho in New York.

Prada Soho

And the newer Prada Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Both have the signature wide staircase that doubles as a museum-like stage for the clothes and shoes. Prada Soho has a huge ramp opposite the wide staircase and a narrower staircase adjacent to the ramp that leads to the men's collection. The women's collections are on the lower level on rows of moving walls that are affectionately referred to as coffins by the store's staff.

Prada Rodeo Drive

Prada Rodeo Drive

In Paris the temporary Prada store was designed by Roberto Baciocchi. He also designed the Prada Honolulu store.

Prada Paris

Prada Paris

And many of the Miu Miu stores. In Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Kyoto, the same Roberto Baciocchi design can be found. The color varies but the Miu Miu pattern is the same. These are two photos I took of the Miu Miu stores in Tokyo and Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Miu Miu Kowloon

Miu Miu Tokyo

New New Miu Miu

Every season I swoon over the new Miu Miu shoes. This season is no different. Look at these gems (literally)!


I’m reminded of my friend Brian who always says, “Glad to see you’re wearing your sensible flats, mama.” Brian, there is nothing sensible about these flats!


I’m having a Rachel Zoe moment.

Here's the whole collection.