Prada’s Flask Tote Is a Good Time Gone Bag

Following a collection rooted in choice, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have the clothing talk over Prada’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection, appropriately named “Let’s Talk About Clothes.” And what better way to get the conversation going than with tote bags resembling drinking flasks? Pinkies up.

Realized in textured leathers and even gleaming silver coats, Prada’s FW23 handbags are actually just sleek branded totes carrying stainless water bottles.

With the bottle’s top peaking just above the opening and the bag’s clean rectangular shape, the bags look like gigantic flasks — that you can carry. Sadly, they’re not. But apparently, they do carry your go-to drink carriers (so, it’s not a total loss).

That may be the whole point, though. Prada’s FW23 menswear collection manifests as an “exploration of the fundamentals of fashion,” as the brand puts it — refining and reducing the Prada Mana’s already-muted uniform to give it a new meaning.

In this case, the Prada tote bag and drinking container, at their simplest, give the impression of an entirely new — and far off — Prada product. Or maybe, I’m looking too deep into it. Who knows?

Prada FW23 saw the Milanese house go even more low-key than its SS23 offering, where leather shorts and wicked boots comprised the Prada man’s summer uniform.

For FW23, a calm palette informs elevated staples, resulting in oversized outerwear, super skinny trousers, and frill-free shirts.

Pillowcore materializes as padded bomber jackets and tanks (no wonder Prada sent out pillow invites). Meanwhile, the collection’s chunky shoes — what looks like a marriage of creepers and Balenciaga’s Triple S sneakers — are already making out to be Prada fan faves.

It’ll be interesting to see the direction the brand takes moving forward, especially since co-creative director Simons has more time on his hands.

Murmurs suggest we may see Prada pass the torch entirely to the Simons, making him the sole artistic director of Italian house’s menswear division.

Only time will tell. For now, the two say cheers to staying in their understated Prada bag.