NYFW Wrapped: Prada’s Newest Pop-Up
At New York Fashion Week, it's hard to complain about long wait times. The experience in itself is sometimes the real end product, and you might just leave with something you didn’t know you needed. This is what my experience was like when I visited Prada Beauty for their new pop-up artistry project, “Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry”.
Makeup display inside the Prada New York City Pop-Up Source: Carleene Campa
Located in SoHo, this event was the epitome of NYFW: purple Prada cans, free photo opportunities, pretty displays, new fragrances, and cosmetics to try on. I walked in with the desire to explore what the buzz was all about, and ended up leaving with new favorites, along with a few products that didn't quite exceed my expectations.
The pop-up was held at 45 Grand Street on Sept. 12 and 13 and was centered around the new Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry fragrance and Wisteria makeup collection. Visitors were able to sample the scent of new fragrances, experience makeup interactions, take portraits, and chat with Prada Beauty experts; the event also featured a screening of the Zendaya-led Sweet Chemistry campaign.
Prada logo complementary water. Source: Carleene Campa
The little details were one of my favorite aspects. As we waited in line, the Prada staff came out with complimentary purple water cans with the Prada logo on them. It was a minor detail, but having free water is a big plus when you're waiting in line outside. The Prada staff were very kind and accommodating as everyone tested out the products.
Obviously, I had to take advantage of the free photos. We were asked to pose for the purple carpet with the new Sweet Chemistry fragrance, and the pictures became one of my favorite souvenirs from the pop-up.
Zendaya Prada campaign shown at the pop-up Source: Carleene Campa
Next up, Zendaya. She had visited the pop-up the day before its opening to the public, as a way to start up Fashion Week. Zendaya starred in Prada’s campaign for the Paradoxe fragrance. ELLE also caught up with her at the surprise New York City Fashion Week pop-up at Prada in SoHo. Her relationship with the brand gave deeper insight into their partnership with the launch.
For the makeup collection, I have to be honest: it didn’t move me. I will give praise to the eye pencil, which became my favorite item I tried from my Wisteria makeup collection. The Pradalines Durable Gliding Eye Pencil was pigmented and really popped. That's exactly what I searched for in an eye product. The blush, however, was not quite as effective for me. Personally, I wouldn’t choose this product since it didn’t show long-lasting wear at all. The designs of the Wisteria collection were eye-catching inside the Prada pop-up, but in my opinion, what really counts is the actual performance and wearability.
I was most excited to try the fragrances—and I did try a few! Most of them weren’t really my taste after testing them out, but one exception was the Sweet Chemistry fragrance. It became an instant favorite. It’s sweet, but not overpowering, and I returned to it after sampling the other perfumes.
Sweet Chemistry is a fruity floral fragrance centered around blackcurrant syrup, orange blossom, and neroli milk accents. I would absolutely purchase the full-sized bottle. The U.S. website of Prada currently does offer Sweet Chemistry in two sizes: 50 ml and 90 ml. They also offer a 150 ml refill.
Prada Beauty Fragrances on display Source: Carlenee Campa
Overall, I enjoyed my time at the Prada pop-up. Not all makeup products were effective, and I certainly didn't find every perfume a personal favorite, but the experience was memorable. It felt like a real beauty sample test, not just perusing something on a shelf. I had the opportunity to do it all: take pictures, explore an environment that's very on brand with Prada, and determine what I'd actually spend money on. The eyeshadow and Sweet Chemistry fragrance ended up catching my attention the most; the blush simply didn’t meet my expectations. My experience at Fashion Week at Prada was whimsical, and I would surely repeat beauty pop-ups again in the future.
Carleene Campa at the Prada Purple Carpet Source: Carleene Campa
Would you try the Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry fragrance, or are you sticking with your signature scent? Leave a comment below.