Turbans are symbolic headdress, worn throughout history to convey difference in levels of purity, religiosity, social-status, by men of various racial and socioeconomic persuasion throughout the Middle East and South Asia.

But as Suzy Menkes of [1] IHT so succinctly surmised, “Miuccia [2] Prada has seen the woman of the future—and she is wearing a slipper satin surgical tunic and (an) Indian turban.”

Prada was not alone in bringing the turban trend to fashionistas for spring 2007; check out [3] Moschino and [4] Derek Lam. It would be easy to assume that Western designers are engaging in political commentary, but the turban has graced the heads of models in years past at Valentino, Donna Karan, Giorgio Armani, etc.

If I run into you next season sporting the Prada turban, I may remark that your attempts at signifying feminist appropriation are simply marvelous darling! But silently I’ll be judging your desperate need to affirm your social status (mostly because Miuccia refuses to send me any freebees).