October 16, 2025 | Posted in Blog
When we look at contemporary fashion trends that scream feminine rebellion, Miu Miu stands out from its luxury counterparts, and here at Your Dream Bag, we’re obsessed.
If you were ever wondering how Miu Miu captured the hearts of celeb ‘it’ girls and modern designer fans alike, keep reading. We’re taking a look at the brand’s history, rise to iconic status and domination of Gen Z’s wardrobes.
Loved by celebs like Anya Taylor-Joy, Gigi Hadid, Alexa Chung and Hailey Bieber, Miu Miu has made a name for itself within the eccentric fashion world. Its perspective on clothing and accessories has always been fresh and fun while remaining super wearable, and these days, it’s a Gen Z favourite. Its bags, shoes, perfume and sunglasses especially keep shoppers coming back for more.
Miu Miu takes style risks but doesn’t forget its target audience, and that’s what keeps it popular. There’s a lot you can say about this brand’s pieces, but they’ll never be called ordinary or outdated.
Miu Miu is actually the sister company of Prada, established by its head designer and granddaughter of the founder, Miuccia Prada, in 1992. Miuccia wanted to experiment with some more playful designs, and this didn’t match Prada’s minimalist aesthetic, so Miu Miu was born, being named after her.
In 1993, the first boutique was opened in Via della Spiga, Milan, and it was filled with Miuccia’s most avant-garde creations yet. As a women’s rights activist with a degree in political science, her impact on Prada had been impressive but unexpected, so this new venture excited many fashion lovers. She was fresh and rebellious, and Miu Miu would follow by example, which was just what consumers in the 90s were looking for.
Miuccia wanted Miu Miu to be slightly more affordable and inspired by her personal sense of style. The first collection was cowgirl-themed, which may sound like a dream these days, but it was also huge back then, partly in thanks to these designs. Fun fringing, suede and cute prairie skirts made this collection feel young and unique without being inaccessible to the everyday shopper.
1995 was a big year for Miu Miu. Its campaign with a then 20-year-old Drew Barrymore, who had already been an A-Lister for most of her life at that point, has gone down in history. It was bold and feminine, a now staple of the brand.
Its first collection at New York Fashion Week had Kate Moss front and centre, so, of course, everyone took notice (she really had a hold on 90s catwalks). Chloë Sevigny would also walk in this show and the next year get her own campaign with the brand.
This campaign was groundbreaking for 1996, with Sevigny showcasing her androgynous style in a menswear fit and sandals.
When 1997 rolled around, the fashion house didn’t lose any steam. The Spring/Summer collection combined cosy knits with mini skirts and some tailored outerwear options we’d still wear to this day. Miuccia Prada personally picked out Angela Lindvall as the featured show model, several years before she’d become a Victoria’s Secret angel.
These were the first few examples of Miu Miu’s ability to find an upcoming ‘it girl’. It was never about finding a squeaky-clean campaign face for the brand; it was about women who had a complex public persona as well as a unique sense of style. Stars that spoke to Miu Miu’s audience; cool girls that didn’t have to try so hard.
You’ll see as we continue that Miuccia’s choices for the faces of Miu Miu campaigns and runways were a series of pop culture icons, elevating the brand’s image even further. If you were growing up during the 90s and 00s, you probably wanted to be a ‘Miu Miu Girl’.
Miu Miu did then delve into menswear in 1999, debuting a collection that put a slight masculine twist on its existing sense of style.
As it entered the 00s, ‘girly-girls’ and ‘tomboys’ alike fell in love with Miu Miu but it was never truly about gender for the brand, it was about effortless pieces that felt new. Back then, being ‘quirky’ was everything and Prada’s unruly little sister was thriving.
Not only did it lead the mini-skirt revival in this era, it stepped up its accessories and footwear game with some stunning strappy heels and sunglasses being added to its collection.
Mimicking some of Prada’s more expensive bag silhouettes, Miu Miu created quite a few Y2K handbag heavy hitters during this period, too. The Matelassé Coffer bag…need we say more? (We will, later in the blog!)
Several major celebs from the time were added to the Miu Miu roster, including Lindsay Lohan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Vanessa Paradis. Gyllenhaal’s 2004 campaign took inspiration from pin-up girls of the past but gave it a colourful twist.
Also in 2004, Madonna would enter the chat, wearing custom gold buckled black leather boots during her Re-Invention World Tour.
In 2005, Selma Blair became a ‘Miu Miu Girl’, alongside Lou Doillon and Evan Rachel Wood, in that year’s Fall/Winter campaign. The outfits featured were casual and fun, reflecting the brand’s image at the time beautifully.
Miu Miu debuted its first Paris Fashion Week collection in 2006 and by this point, was present in every fashion magazine possible.
It then pulled A-lister Kirsten Dunst for its theatrical Spring/Summer campaign in 2008, solidifying Miu Miu as an authority on all things a little stylishly seductive.
2008 would also be the year that the brand would fully focus on womenswear, putting menswear designs on hold.
It’s clear by now that Miu Miu loved to appeal to young adults who wanted the next trending piece but, in the 2010s, it began to explore this more. The 2010 Spring/Summer collection would focus on elements of ‘innocence’, with nude loungewear pieces, animal prints and, maybe controversially, Lolita dresses.
Now veteran model, Lindsey Wixson was an unknown in 2010 when she featured in ads for the brand at just 16 and a year later, the then 14 year old Hailee Steinfeld would also appear in a vibrant and fun campaign.
In 2011, Miu Miu also dipped its toe into film making, launching Women’s Tales,a series of short films created in collaboration with popular female directors and costumed by the fashion house itself. It wasn’t just part of pop culture now, it was making it.
2012 saw it release the acclaimed Culte sunglasses, taking what was trending at that moment and adding a retro twist. They were a hit, and you can still get variations to this day, showing how prominent it remains in the eyewear space – seriously, who hasn’t swooned over a pair of Miu Miu sunnies?
Appealing to teens and young adults was one thing. Still, the brand did get in some hot water a few years later in 2015 when the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority actually banned a Miu Miu ad in British Vogue as it featured Mia Goth, who was 22 years old at the time, with ‘minimal makeup’ that made her look underage and a dress with a plunging neckline. This sparked a lot of debate but Vogue dnfended the ad.
Moving past this, Miu Miu continued to be the fashion brand of the younger generation, steering its designs and products in their direction. It began releasing viral products pretty consistently, including the first Miu Miu ballet flats in 2016.
The modern era of Miu Miu, still driven by Miuccia Prada, is mainly defined by its trending designs and, as always, breaking fashion boundaries. 2018’s Fall/Winter collection specifically, focused on ‘independent femininity’ and women expressing themselves through clothing, with bold styling and oversized outwear.
2018 was also the year that upcoming stars, Elle Fanning and Im Yoon-ah, would become ambassadors for the couturier.
‘Upcycled by Miu Miu’ would debut in 2020, where vintage dresses from the 1930s to the 1980s were refashioned and sold. This environmentally conscious project is still going today, and we’re completely here for it.
2022 was a monumental year for Miu Miu as not only did it collaborate with New Balance, revive its satin ballet pump, and debut its viral contemporary take on mini skirt, it also brought back its menswear, this time focusing on an adrogynous, Y2K-inspired look.
Yes, Miu Miu really has embraced the Y2K aesthetic in recent years, bringing out gorg retro-vibe bags, stunning accessories and some beyond cute bag charms.
2023 brought us the AW23 Sienna biker boot, which had some of Miu Miu’s OG western style mixed with a grungey look. We were truly blessed with these boot,s and there are still dupes being dropped to this day, as is the case with so many products from this now fashion giant.
Between 2022 and 2025, Gigi Hadid, FKA Twigs, Troye Sivan, Hailey Bieber, Jang Won-young, Ethel Cain, Sydney Sweeney, Momo Hirai, Emma Corrin and even Willem Dafoe have fronted campaigns or walked the runway for the brand.
Its success doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, with boutiques and influence across the world and ambassadors coming from all backgrounds. It’s making bank too, with the brand’s revenues increasing by 105% in 2024.
As it continues to blend nostalgia with new trends (a fabulous combo if you ask us), Miu Miu seems to be unstoppable right now, with looks popping up everywhere from the red carpet to the high street – who knows what or even who they’ll make viral next.
As we’ve mentioned above, this brand just keeps making iconic pieces so, here we’re taking a look at our faves that you can still currently get your hands on.
THE bag of Miu Miu’s SS24 show, the Nappa Pouch is the perfect little bag to take with you out and about. Made from soft leather and designed with an adjustable and fully detachable strap, you can wear this bag in so many ways with basically any outfit.
If this is the handbag of your dreams (which, we wouldn’t blame you for), you’re in luck because you win it in our in one of our current draws for just £1.49!
Looking for unique high-quality sunglasses, well look no further than the Regard sunnies. Thanks to their beautiful indigo tinted lenses and classic, oversized silhouette, these just look fun but flattering on anyone.
You get 100% UVA / UVB protection with these, plus they come in Miu Miu’s super chic sunglasses case to keep them safe.
We adore the ultra-feminine satin ballerina flats from Miu Miu, but the Ruches Nappa Leather Ballerinas have that girly look, but you could wear them in the colder months too.
Coming in two colours, perfect for Autumn, the flats are versatile and comfy. We love the addition of a leather band to stop them from sliding off, too.
Like the Miu Miu Vitello Lux Bow satchel and the Madras bag, the Matelassé handbag is one of the brand’s Y2K triumphs. The design is truly unique and looks effortlessly stylish slung over your shoulder.
You can’t buy them new anymore but vintage versions are constantly being resold so we just had to include it in our list. If you find one and you want splurge, we’d highly recommend snapping it up!
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a minskirt and this chino number is a must-have. Preppy and easy to style, we love the raw hem detail here. It’s the type of playful design you’d expect from a contemporary Miu Miu piece.
You can definitely dress this up or down, but we’re fans of the casual look with this one.
How can you not enjoy a fun Miu Miu bag charm? They have a lovely selection of them, some more subtle than others but we just couldn’t resist this adorable little character.
With its own crochet-effect outfit and flawless hairstyle, this is a big slay in our opinion.
If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to your wardrobe with a quality designer bag, Your Dream Bag may be just what you’re looking for.
With our handpicked selection of designer handbags, accessories, luxury home goods, and easy-to-enter competitions, getting your hands on your next fashion fave is just a few clicks away.
October 8, 2025
October 1, 2025
September 24, 2025
