Fashion Statement: Who are fashion's golden couple?

FASHION DILEMMA Who are fashion's most successful husband and wife team? Well fashion swots? Would you perhaps hazard a guess at print specialists Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto of Eley Kishimoto? Or maybe you'd go for Inacio Ribeiro and Suzanne Clements of Clements Ribiero? Sorry, wrong answer. Take a detention and come back when you've done your homework properly. The correct answer can only be Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada. Yes, the owners of a global fashion conglomerate with $2.4 billion in sales are a very special couple indeed, as a recent interview in the Wall Street Journal revealed. But while Prada is one of the most influential designers in the world (not to mention Fashion Statement's office, where we are rocking the Land Girls look from her Autumn/Winter 2010 show) it seems the real force (and we really do mean force) behind the business is her husband Bertelli. Creative genius though she may be, it seems Miuccia Prada would be ill-advised to get on the wrong side of her husband: when overseeing the decor of a new Miu Miu store in 1997, he had a bit of a problem with a mirror. But while your average business mogul might just have demanded a refund from the manufacturer, not Bertelli. Oh no. He smashed it. "It made people look too fat," he said of the incident. And could there possibly be a worse fashion crime than that? His ire is not just reserved for unflattering mirrors though - he famously broke the rear lights of several cars parked in the wrong spaces of Prada's carpark. "I enjoyed that," he remarked afterwards. Quite. Getting the impression he might quite like letting loose now and then? Yes, us too. Prada, though, seems to have taken those incidents in her stride: "I always tell Bertelli: You like this reputation, or you'd change it," she says, while Bertelli maintains that his anger is only triggered by things that are banal, or for people who just don't cut it. "My behavior is always correct, and I always try to motivate people" he said. Strangest of all, in Fashion Statement's book, is the the fact that Prada refers only to her husband by his surname. Just your average couple, no? So there you go fashion fans. Please ensure that, should you meet the power pair, your mirrors are suitably flattering, your cars are correctly parked and - god forbid - your conversation is not banal. BANG ON TREND Pick 'n' Mix prints Not literally the sweet treats you get at the cinema you understand, rather the whole gamut of prints that were seen on catwalks such as Jaeger, Dolce and Gabbana and Moschino. This season it's okay to mix animal with floral, graphic with geometric - heck, you can get away with practically anything, so make the most of it. These vintage-looking floral shorts from Miss Selfridge for £30 are a pretty purchase with a flatteringly wide waistband. They'll be perfect worn with a plain white vest and and a pair of sandals. If shorts are going to be your thing this summer, then we've also seen these See by Chloe ones (£110) with a cute blue bow-tie motif. French Connection's ivy dress sports a gorgeous burst of rich colour, is a flattering shape and has been reduced in the sale to a mere £29.50. This printed cami by Amana is made with organic silk, produced by fairly paid artisans and would look rather fetching with boyfriend jeans. At £59.08, it's also a good bargain. People Tree's Leilani floral print dress (£65) is another ethical buy that will have you looking gorgeous for spring. It has a retro print and we suggest styling it with the wide leather belt that they've used for the model on People Tree's website. Komodo's Lola dress (£67) is a sweet summery option suitable for strolling city streets in the sunshine, and their tribal printed tulip skirt (£45) with fierce black and red colours is good for those who like to stand out from the crowd. Liberty's designs for Target have some rather bargainous deals. We especially like this sunflower print duffel bag for £22 For its beefed up animal print we've got to mention Topshop's body-con skirt (£25). Yes, it's VERY 80s, but in a good way, honest. FASHION GRAVEYARD In case anyone doesn't remember, Matt Goss used to be in Bros, Mel B used to be in the Spice Girls, and Leona Lewis used to have better friends. Leona's face says it all in this photo, and we don't think it's necessary to explain to Fashion Statement followers (Mel B we assume you're not a subscriber ...) that shaving half your head and wearing a neon blue dress do not a Rihanna make. FASHIONISTA OF THE WEEK Maybe it's just the fact that this week spring seems finally to have sprung, but this picture of Nicola Roberts in her picnic blanket-bright Vivienne Westwood dress just makes us feel happy. Not only does she look great, she's also flying the flag for being pale and interesting (and her hair's not quite as mumsy as usual). QUOTE OF THE WEEK Q: What was the first designer piece you owned? A; I remember because I used to go to school with my collection of Fendi bags - wallet, bag, umbrella. Everything matching. It's never raining in my country - it's so hot! All the people in my class used to make a joke about me, say, you know, "Where you going with umbrella?! No rain outside?!" I said, "I know, but it's part of the look!" I was, I think, 12. NYMag interviews notorious clotheshorse Anna Dello Russo , the Italian-born fashion director of Vogue Nippon. What do you mean your wardrobe wasn't full of Fendi when you were 12? Tsk, get with the programme, people. OUT AND ABOUT An exhbition by jewellery artist Jacqueline Ryan alongside works by metal work artists Junko Mori opens in Cumbia at the end of the month. Beauty in Repetition: Metalwork and Jewellery is on show from 27 March, at the Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House SHOPPING NEWS British brand Fullcircle have launched a brand new shopping website and to celebrate are offering Fashion Statement's lucky readers a 10% discount. Don't say we never treat you. Just enter the code Guardian10 at checkout. Snap up their spring/summer collection now - we particularly like this splash print skirt . Wear with a white T-shirt to play it down or if you're feeling daring, a contrasting print. The offer is valid uintil the 17th April. Desperate for a pair of Jimmy Choos or Louboutins but just can't justify the cost? Cinderella-me.co.uk is the site for you. You can hire a pair of designer shoes from £40 a week. Each pair will be hired no more than eight times to ensure they stay in tip top shape. Urban brand specialist Republic has opened an eagerly awaited first store in Ireland, in Belfast's Castle Court shopping centre on March 15th. Get there for your fix of Diesel, Firetrap, Bench and other youthful favourites. OFFCUTS Kira Cochrane asks why models are still so thin . Jess Cartner-Morley and Simon Chilvers tackle the tricky issue of wearing double denim . Learn how to get the backstage model look in the fashion briefing. For all the latest fashion news, visit guardian.co.uk/fashion News to tell us? Email [email protected] Follow us on Twitter