GUESTS were invited via a wax-sealed, handwritten note from Donatella Versace to an “intimate creative experience”. The elusive invitation outlined the time (7:30 sharp) & the place (Donatella Versace’s private villa in Milan) in gold pen, leaving guests with little to no information on what was about to unfold.
“THIS is not a collaboration…” reads the press release for the Versace by Fendi and Fendi by Versace SS22 collection. Both fashion houses have already debuted their individual SS22 collections, which were wholly separate from the historical fashion crossover episode. What occurred on Sunday was, in fact, not a collaboration but rather two brands exchanging creative directors.
Donatella Versace and Kim Jones with Venturini-Fendi were offered full access to the other designer’s brand’s archives and given the task to reimagine and design for the other respective brand using their individual vision.
It’s a celebration of mutual admiration & the history of two monumental design houses – which for the record are not owned by the same parent company. Fendi, which belongs to LVMH and Versace, was bought by Michael Kors, aka Capri Holdings, in 2018.
The result of this creative coming together was two collections in which two infamous design sensibilities reimagined the best of two beloved brand identities. Versace by Fendi brought together the two fashion houses through the use of the iconic Versace safety pin motif, which featured a subtle Fendi FF monogram logo.
The Fendi logo densely populated the collection in chokers, heeled sandal embellishments and baguette bag details. Classic, baroque Versace prints were combined with unexpected, Fendi-familiar silhouettes like streetwear shorts and jacket sets and oversized, cape-like outerwear.
Donatella brought ’90s glamour to Fendi for the Fendi by Versace collection. The infamous, metallic chainmail dresses and skirts made a reappearance worn by supermodels Naomi Campbell and Gigi Hadid – but this time around, the Fendi monogram logo was imprinted into the fabric.
Versace generously used the brown Fendi logo print throughout the collection, covering mini skirts, cropped jacket sets, and knee-high boots. Fendi re-envisioned Versace, not so surprisingly included lots of gold, bold hues, and the purposeful clashing of two iconic prints.
by Jamison Kent
All images courtesy of Versace and Fendi.