Prada’s "Depression Core" Hair Sparks Debate at Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion Week was abuzz with the latest trends and bold statements from top designers, but one look in particular stole the spotlight: Prada’s "depression core" hairstyles. The Fall-Winter 2025/2026 collection, a collaboration between Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, featured models sporting unkempt, messy hairdos that sparked both intrigue and uproar online. The hairstyles, which included sloppy ponytails, jumbled buns, and an overall air of "bed-head chic," were quickly labeled as "depression hair" by social media users. A viral TikTok video showcasing the looks racked up nearly 18 million views, with many commenters poking fun at the styles. "My hair looks like this after bed rotting for a week," one user joked, while another quipped, "Oooooh, so I have Prada hair, not chronic depression hair. Niiiiice." The backlash was swift, with critics accusing the brand of glamourizing misery and turning struggles into a fashion trend. "Oh, wow, so my depression is chic," one sarcastic commenter wrote. Others called out the brand for cultural appropriation, with one user declaring, "MY CULTURE IS NOT YOUR COSTUME!!!!!!!"
Prada’s Response: A Call to Question Beauty Standards
Despite the online furor, Prada maintained that the controversial hairstyles were part of a larger mission to provoke deep discussions about beauty and femininity. On its website, the brand posed questions like, "What does femininity mean today? How can it be defined?" The collection, which included knee-length dresses with minimalist silhouettes and loose-fitting tops with a pajama-like finish, was designed to highlight "rawness" and the relationship between the body and clothing. "Dresses – emblematic of femininity – are constantly, ceaselessly transformed, through both form and how each is worn," Prada wrote. The brand also emphasized the theme of "displacement," where elements of glamour, such as jewels, handbags, and bows, contrasted with the raw, undone aesthetic of the collection. While Prada’s artistic vision was clear, the execution left many unimpressed. For some, the "depression core" look felt more like a gimmick than a genuine commentary on beauty.
Diesel’s Bare-Butt Moment Divides Opinion
Prada wasn’t the only brand making waves at Milan Fashion Week. Diesel, known for its bold and often provocative designs, sent models down the runway in low-rise jeans with exposed butt cracks. The look, which quickly went viral, was met with a mix of shock and amusement. While some fans of the brand praised the daring style, others were less than thrilled. "Immediately no," one social media user wrote, while another pleaded, "PLEASE do not make plumber cracks a trend." The backlash was reminiscent of the early 2000s low-rise jeans trend, which also sparked debates about practicality and taste. "Low rise jeans: yes, plumber cracks: no," one commenter declared, summing up the general sentiment. Diesel’s decision to push boundaries with this look was undeniably attention-grabbing, but it remains to be seen whether the trend will gain traction beyond the runway.
The Fine Line Between High Fashion and Everyday Criticism
The reactions to both Prada’s "depression core" hair and Diesel’s bare-butt designs highlight a long-standing tension in the fashion world: the divide between high fashion’s artistic expression and everyday practicality. While fashion insiders often praise bold, thought-provoking designs, the general public tends to view them with skepticism, particularly when they feel that struggles or cultural identities are being commodified. Prada’s hairstyles, for example, were criticized not just for their aesthetic but for what they represented. "It’s giving tired mom of 3 under [age] 3," one user quipped, while another pointed out the hypocrisy of valorizing a look that would be frowned upon in real-life situations. "If the foster kids, homeless kids, or black kids walked around like this, y’all [would] be calling CPS," one commenter wrote. "Now it’s just fashion SMH." These criticisms raise important questions about the role of fashion in society and whether it should ever be immune to scrutiny.
Fashion’s Provocative Edge: A Double-Edged Sword
While the controversy surrounding Prada and Diesel’s latest collections may seem like a publicity stunt, it also underscores the enduring power of fashion to spark conversations. By pushing boundaries and challenging norms, brands like Prada and Diesel force us to confront our assumptions about beauty, identity, and culture. Whether or not one agrees with their approach, it’s undeniable that these looks have started a dialogue. For Prada, the goal was to interrogate traditional notions of femininity and beauty, inviting viewers to reconsider what it means to be glamorous. For Diesel, the exposed butt cracks were a playful nod to the brand’s rebellious DNA, even if they didn’t quite land with everyone. Love it or hate it, fashion’s ability to provoke is what keeps it relevant in an ever-changing world.
The Big Question: Is Fashion Art or Just a Trend?
As the dust settles on Milan Fashion Week, one question looms large: where does fashion end and art begin? For some, the answer is simple – fashion is art, and the runway is its canvas. For others, it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that often prioritizes shock value over substance. Prada’s "depression core" hair and Diesel’s bare-butt designs are just the latest examples of fashion’s willingness to take risks, even if those risks don’t always pay off. Whether these looks will have a lasting impact on fashion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: they’ve given us plenty to talk about. And in the world of fashion, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. After all, as the saying goes, "all press is good press."
