The House of Savoy coat of arms and knotted rope on Prada’s seal herald that the iconic Italian luxury fashion house was named Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household in 1919. Started in 1913 by Mario Prada, the brand’s original shop in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II still has the mahogany shelves that displayed its early wares such as travel items and handbags. Today, these fine leather goods are joined by the clothing, wallets and other various accessories that keep the brand on the cutting edge of fashion.
When Mario Prada’s granddaughter, Miuccia Prada (b. 1949), inherited the business from her mother in the late 1970s, Prada was recognized for its quality craftsmanship, yet it was still a modest-sized company. Miuccia, an enthusiast of unconventional Italian filmmakers who’d earned a Ph.D. in political science, introduced the concept of using pocone — a military-grade water-resistant nylon that feels like silk.
Nylon revolutionized the fashion house’s business, with the first Prada nylon backpack released to universal acclaim in 1984. Soon the durable, water-resistant material was incorporated into Prada’s ready-to-wear collections for both men and women. No one had previously considered nylon a part of luxury fashion, and it wasn’t long before the family-owned company best known for its luggage was leading modern style that emphasized function as much as form.
Characterized by clean lines and a refined elegance that signaled the new direction of the legacy brand, Miuccia Prada debuted her first ready-to-wear collection for women in Fall/Winter 1988. More inventive fashion would follow in the ensuing years, such as the 1993 launch of the more affordable, more playful Miu Miu line, which was aimed at a younger audience, and the introduction of Prada Sport in 1997 — a collection now widely seen as prescient for its embrace of athleisure.
Prada has regularly gone against the grain to elevate styles that have long been out of fashion. In 1996, there were dresses and skirts in clashing patterns and muted earth tones that seemed flat and outdated, all worn with chunky high wedge sandals. Fanny packs followed three years later, and elaborate lace in 2008. Each season continues to bring new eye-catching innovations for the historic brand, including enhanced attention to sustainability with Prada Re-Nylon, a new line of bags created from recycled ocean plastic.
Today, find a wide variety of vintage Prada evening dresses, bags and other items on 1stDibs.
Prada F/W 2006 Black Wool A-Line Dress
By Prada
Located in London, GB
We are excited to present this Prada Fall Winter 2006 black wool dress. Features horizontal panelling, a-line silhouette and back zip closure with ‘Prada’ hardware. In great vintage ...
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent F/W Tom Ford 2004 Black Dress With Mink Trim
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in London, GB
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent F/W Tom Ford 2004 Black Dress With Mink Trim. Collectible Tom Ford sheath dress crafted from an elastic material accompanied by quilted, rib detailing thr...
Gucci Vintage S/S 2001 One Shoulder Black Midi Dress
By Gucci
Located in London, GB
Tom Ford for Gucci Spring Summer one shoulder dress. Features one shoulder double leather strap and black Gucci hardware detail, side ruching detail with bodycon fit in midi length. ...
Prada 2019 Black Utility Nylon Black Dress
By Prada
Located in London, GB
Prada 2019 utility dress. Features a front zip pocket , square neckline , two medium straps and fastens with a concealed back zip. In excellent condition. Brand: Prada Size: UK 8 C...
Gucci Vintage S/S 2003 Ruched Black Mini Dress
By Gucci
Located in London, GB
Gucci by Tom Ford S/S 2003 Ruched Black Mini Dress. Features ruched sides, sweetheart neckline, long sleeves, open black with cross over string detail and knee length. Brand: Gucci ...
Gucci Vintage S/S 1998 Runway Leather Strap Black Long Sleeve Dress
By Gucci
Located in London, GB
Tom Ford for Gucci Spring Summer 1998 black runway dress. Features long sleeves, iconic leather shoulder detail straps and body-con style in midi length. In excellent vintage conditi...
Prada Fall 2008 Vintage Women's Black Wool Felt Corset Bust Dress
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in London, GB
Utterly stunning vintage Prada dress from the Fall 2008 collection. In amazing unworn condition. Made from soft and thick black wool felt and the t...
Prada Vintage Fall/Winter 2006 Black Architectural Sample Dress Size S
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in Berlin, DE
A rare Prada Fall/Winter 2006 black dress, believed to be a runway sample or prototype, closely related to the silhouettes shown on the FW 2006 runway. The design features a distinctive architectural neckline with a geometric triangular cut-out and wide textured shoulder straps, creating the strong yet minimal structure characteristic of Prada’s mid-2000s collections. Crafted in Italy, the dress is constructed from a smooth technical fabric contrasted with textured straps that frame the shoulders and emphasize the clean, sculptural lines. The silhouette falls in a streamlined, slightly A-line shape, maintaining Prada’s signature balance between utilitarian precision and understated elegance. A discreet side zip closure preserves the minimalist finish. The dress carries a plain black internal label without branding, a detail commonly found in atelier samples or runway prototypes produced during development stages. However, the construction, materials, and design closely correspond to the Prada FW...
PRADA black wool FAUX LEATHER TRIM SHORT SLEEVE Shift Dress 40 S
By Prada
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Prada dress in black virgin wool (95%), polyamide (4%), elastane (1%). Features short sleeves, a PVC trim on the sleeves and the hemline. Has a patch pocket on the che...
PRADA 2017 black virgin wool off shoulder minimalist coat dress IT40 S
By Prada, Miuccia Prada
Located in Hong Kong, NT
PRADA 2017 black virgin wool off shoulder minimalist coat dress IT40 S Reference: TGAS/F00560 Brand: Prada Designer: Miuccia Prada Collection: 2017 Material: Virgin Wool Color: Black...
PRADA black viscose blend Long Sleeve Shift Dress 38 XS
By Prada
Located in Zürich, CH
authentic Prada long-sleeve dress in black acetate (74%) and viscose (26%) with a deep back neckline. Opens with a zipper on the back and has a hidden zipper on the cuff. Has been wo...
PRADA 1998 Vintage black wool rubber seamed V neck minimal sheath dress IT40 S
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in Hong Kong, NT
PRADA 1998 Vintage black wool rubber seamed V neck minimal sheath dress IT40 S Reference: TGAS/G00040 Brand: Prada Designer: Miuccia Prada Collection: Circa...
