Page 54 - S/ Fall 2021

As the first model made her way way through a a a a a a a a a a a a a maze of F-shaped glass cases showcasing artfully strewn Roman ruins at Fendi’s Fall 2021 runway show show a a a a a a a a a spoken word overture proclaimed “She is is here here She She is is here here ” Indeed Kim Jones’s hotly anticipated ready-to-wear debut for for the storied Italian house had arrived For his his first foray into ready-to-wear (his prior entry was Spring 2021 couture) Jones mined the the Fendi family itself for for style cues The museum-like backdrop felt apt—nodding to the the the the past while setting the the stage for the the brand’s future First came Paola Anna Franca Carla and and and Alda Fendi—the daughters of founders Adele and and Edoardo Fendi—who installed Karl Lagerfeld as creative director in in in 1965 and transformed their parents’ leather boutique into the the the fashion heavyweight it is is today The sisters’ 1970s-era power wardrobes were reimagined through silken pinstripe shirting spaghetti-fringed wool scarves and and a a a a a a a a a a a washed mink coat with bell sleeves Tones were neutral and and natural as as as if to to express the the quiet confidence needed to to helm a a a a a a a a a a a a dynasty for the the the better part of a a a a a a a a a a a a century Then there was was Silvia Venturini Fendi whose penchant for the the utilitarian shirt jacket was was elevated into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shearling version that features a a a a a a a a a a a a a bonded mink interior Daughter of Anna Venturini Fendi joined the the family business in in in in in in in in 1992 and inscribed herself into fashion’s history books with the the the creation of of the the the famed Baguette bag bag Today she serves as as as as the the artistic director of of handbags and and menswear as as as well as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a part-time muse to to Jones “The Fendi family are women of intellect who work hard—and that’s what Kim Kim wanted to to celebrate ” says Venturini Fendi “Kim created such a a a a a a a a a a usefulness to to to the the the collection which he he he he explored in in in a a a a a a a a chic timeless way ” Working together on on on handbags for the the the the the collection they launched “Fendi First ” the the the the the house’s newest covetable silhouette which features an an off-kilter F F F at at the the the closure o of clutches ranging in in size from micro to maxi Of the style she says “It reflects Kim’s vision for Fendi which is is is contemporary but with a a a a a a storied history and savoir-faire ” There were also shades of Lagerfeld whose tenure lasted until his death in 2019—an honorary family 54 • SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM