miu miu SIlk Cut Work Day Dress in Brown and Black with Orange

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 In 1996, there were dresses and skirts in clashing patterns and muted earth tones that seemed flat and outdated, all worn with chunky high wedge sandals.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.

The brainchild of Miuccia Prada (b. 1949), Miu Miu is largely known for its vintage day dresses, shoes and bags, and embodies its creator’s unconventional, effervescent and contemporary femininity in a style that is a delightful departure from the traditional chic of parent brand Prada, an iconic Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913.

Miuccia, the granddaughter of Prada founder Mario Prada, joined the family business in 1970 after earning a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Milan. When she inherited the business from her mother in the late 1970s, the brand was recognized for its quality craftsmanship, yet it was still a modest-sized company. Miuccia 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.

Characterized by clean lines and a refined elegance that signaled the new direction of the legacy brand, Miuccia 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 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.

Today, Miuccia still heads the fresh, colorful and quirky Miu Miu line, which is embraced by celebrities with a similar sense of sartorial rebellion, like Madonna, Drew Barrymore and Chloë Sevigny.

Miu Miu’s iconic handbags and purses are upbeat, daring and youthful. The sequined Club version is a favorite, available in matelassé leather in neutrals, bright colors or metallics. The sparkling, embellished Crystal is a stunning standalone, while the Madras is a classic structured leather design.

Find vintage Miu Miu dresses, skirts and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.