100 Looks Really Good on Fendi
Ten years in fashion is already something to celebrate, but 100? Fendi toasted its centenary today at Milan Fashion Week with a blowout show that drew Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Olsen, and Naomi Ackie, among other house aficionados. Five was another crucial number for the Fendi clan, marking the number of generations since its 1925 founding.
Selena Forrest
“Fendi reminds me of the future,” said Silvia Venturini Fendi, the house’s artistic director of accessories and menswear, in the show notes. When planning this tribute, she wanted history to serve as an inspiration, not a weight. “I didn’t want to spend too much time dwelling on the physical archives. For me, Fendi 100 is more about my personal memories—real or imagined—of what Fendi was and what Fendi means today.”
Gabbriette
The show began with two children (who turned out to be some of the youngest Fendi family members, Dardo and Tazio) opening the heavy door of a grand house: a re-creation of Fendi’s original salons. And from the first model out, the influence of old-school Roman style was clear. Models sported matchy-matchy, impeccably accessorized looks in embellished tweed, leopard print, or chevron leather. Texture was another focus, from quilting to crystal embroideries. And the heady flapper days of the brand’s early years came through in drop-waisted, intricately worked dresses.
Lindsey Wixson
An age-diverse cast included some major model cameos: Karen Elson, Liya Kebede, Doutzen Kroes, Carolyn Murphy, Adriana Lima, and Gabbriette. The Spy bag, that mid-aughts favorite, made a return alongside re-imaginings of the standby Baguette and Peekaboo and a new style, the Giano. And speaking of keeping it all in the family, Delfina Delettrez Fendi provided elaborate earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that re-defined “statement piece.” But perhaps the most talked-about accessories were the doll charms, a cutesy outgrowth of last season’s bag charms. Even at age 100, there’s still room for some childlike whimsy.
ELLE Fashion Features Director
Véronique Hyland is ELLE’s Fashion Features Director and the author of the book Dress Code, which was selected as one of The New Yorker's Best Books of the Year. Her writing has previously appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, W, New York magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Condé Nast Traveler.
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