SILVIA Venturini Fendi has had to come to terms with the loss of Fendi’s previous creative director, the imitable Karl Lagerfeld. For the label’s AW202 menswear presentation in Milan, celebration of life is at the forefront. The progressive, forward-facing looks that have derived from Venturini Fendi and the team have served to show that no matter what, fashion and creativity continues to spring eternal, with a Milan collection that is overtly futuristic yet retains the house’s timeless elegance.
Instead of situating the brand’s artistic elements in the shadow of one of fashion’s most outsize personalities, one year on, Fendi has prioritised the clean Italian tailoring that has made the label synonymous with sun-dappled style. Spatters of lemon-yellow sing of summer in Sorrento, and create a thrilling tête-a-tête with the more formal greys and tans.
Layerings of alternating textures – fur, knits – highlight the brand’s ability to create cohesive pieces out of multiple varying materials. Stitching together different fabrics to create something hybrid and completely new is the core tenet that Fendi has worked with since it was founded in 1925, and the artistry in the blend is deft and unwavering.
The accessory options also provide polarities, with large, woollen tote bags juxtaposed with the smaller, boxy frames again display the breadth of creativity in a house that continues to reinvent, whilst staying true to its origins.
Has the creative direction changed? It has certainly gone forward – and that is the best possible direction to go.
by Simone Williams
Images: Regis Colin for NOWFASHION