There has been a trend among designers, particularly designers who become associated with celebrities (think Gaultier and Madonna, Charlize Theron and Dior), to use famous faces in their runway shows. This is the first time it’s been done on the menswear side. Miuccia Prada really scored for her first time. Prada surprised her audience Sunday afternoon in Milan by casting several famous faces, most of which are not particularly known for their fashion sense, to walk in her Menswear F/W 2012/2013 show, thereby ensuring a bit more press than menswear usually generates. An Academy Award winner and a probable nominee? Wow. The designer managed to wrangle Adrien Brody and Gary Oldman, as well as Willem Dafoe, Tim Roth, Jamie Bell, Emile Hirsch and Garrett Hedlund, in addition, of course, to a collection of walking mannequins. I will say that this group looked more suited to the clothes than I’ve ever seen before. They looked like they could all have come from the set of The Blue Angel or Wings. There were some elements of what appeared to be the Red Baron's uniform, definitely Prussian military inspired, as well as some touches of Edwardian lounge-wear. Old school glamour and attention to detail meets the clean lines and updated construction of the 21st century. The theme of the show involved “the comings and goings of players and power” and the entire spectacular collection had both a vintage feel and a very, very modern edge; a dichotomy that was emphasized by the choice of music (techno-electronica laced with an operatic chorus laced with strings) to which the models walked in a show that was “a cinematic character study, subverting male archetypes and formal codes of dress.” Everything looked haute couture and yet accessible. Fantastic! 

So how’d the actors do? Well, I’ve read that some felt Hirsch, Bell and Roth were too short for the clothes. I don’t care, I thought they looked fantastic. Bell in particular. Tim Roth looked like he was having a good time and yet maintained a sense of decorum, unlike Garrett Hedlund who bopped along like a kindergartner in his first pageant, making eye contact with individual audience members (a definite no-no), flailing his hands (at one point he grabbed his own ass) and then miming the piano at the end. It was probably just nervous energy, but despite the fact that he looked good in the clothes, it was too muc, he broke character and he looked like an ass. 

The stars of the show were definitely Dafoe, Brody and Oldman. All three looked positively regal. I’ve never seen Dafoe look better. Brody was probably the most natural and yet he stayed completely in character. His body type is ideal and his loping, drop-shouldered gait was exactly right for walking that big room. (And oh my god, that red brocade frock coat, his slicked back hair, those sunglasses…I need a moment) And Gary Oldman…I’ve been saying for months, since the Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy press junket started back at Cannes, that he’s lost the creepy and has found some sexy.

I may have mentioned my love of men’s clothes on one or two previous occasions. The video below is like porn as far as I’m concerned. Take a look. Brava Miuccia!

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