The bright red and green shoes are accented with chrome and conical taillights worthy of Chrysler’s Forward Look. The outlines of classic hot-rod flame forms surmount high heels.
The shoes are only part of a wider collection of auto-inspired clothing and accessories, seen in a series of advertisements shot by the fashion photographer, Steven Meisel.
The scene in an ad is an old gas station, sketched out in Prada’s publicity copy: “Bathed in sunlight. Fueled by optimism. Girls and cars stop and stare at the future in this Technicolor mise-en-scĂ©ne of desire.”
Holding bags decorated with graphics of tumbling dice and flame accents, the models are interspersed with ’50s cars, mostly custom, including a few Chevy Bel-Airs. The Prada campaign speaks of a world bathed in optimism, if not a negligible helping of kitsch.