Prada’s Must-See Mannequins Adorn Barneys' Madison Avenue Windows

The Fall 2014 Prada collection debuted this weekend at the Barneys New York flagship, with window displays as thrilling and thought-provoking as the return of women’s ready-to-wear to the fourth floor. Barneys Creative Director Dennis Freedman cited Miuccia herself and 20th-century German avant-garde culture as the biggest influences on the creation of the displays. Mannequins were cast in resin from ordinary people, each single strand of hair and wrinkle underscoring their humanity. Their hyperrealist forms contrast abstracted backdrops (a bed of nails and a stairway to nowhere, for example) and incongruous postures, which Freedman says were created to emphasize the distance and darkness between the individuals. While best seen in person, Bridget Foley’s write-up in Women’s Wear Daily, as well as select images and the video below, provide a sneak peak into the creative process. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at these museum-worthy installations.