FENDI HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION WAS AN HYMN OF LOVE TO THE ETERNAL CITY AND THE LEGENDARY KARL
Text by: Annarosa Laureti
Timeless Roman allure continues to strike our hearts! Since the dawn the Eternal city has been a source of inspiration for all the art fields: from poetry to literature, from painting to architecture, till cinema and fashion. Last May the Italian capital was already stage of the Gucci Resort 2020 Collection – that took place inside the amazing Musei Capitolini – and now is the Haute Couture’s turn. Fendi in fact conquered Roman ruins, making them an amazing romantic setting for its Haute Couture Fall Winter 2019/2020 fashion show.
It is not the first time that the Roman brand chose its beloved city to present an Haute Couture Collection. In 2016 Karl Lagerfeld presented the “Legends and Fairy Tales” Collection at Fontana di Trevi, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the very brand. A Fellinian models’ cast floated on water (thanks to a Plexiglas catwalk) showing creations of “Haute Fourrure”, as the legendary master couturier claimed.
Reminding us Anita Ekberg shouting “Marcello come here” at the beautiful Mastroianni, that location choice was set because of the Fendi’s commitment to the restoration of the Roman fountain.
As in 2016, this year the setting was a new proof of the maison’s patronage. After the “Fendi for fountains project” in fact – made up for the restauration of the “Quattro fontane” complex – the Italian brand will contribute also to the renovation of the Venus temple.
With the Colosseum as backdrop, “The Dawn of Romanity” Collection in fact went on stage on the Palatine hill, to the west of Velian hill, where the very Venus temple rises up next to that of Roma Aeterna. Surely what has been shown was a true declaration of “Amor” (love) not only to the Italian capital but also to Karl himself.
The collection in fact was composed by 54 pieces, exactly as the years that Lagerfeld spent at the House of Fendi. Picking up archive sketches of the dearly departed couturier, Silvia Venturini Fendi made up a collection rich in Roman architectural references. The heavy marble of the Domus Tiberina’s floors turned into soft mink coats and details; the geometry of the mosaics of Caligula’s Nemi ships translates into superlight palazzo pants; while flowers and raffia ears of wheat embellish long and transparent dresses.
The color palette reproduces that of the marble itself: cold pastel tones of jade, rose, citron and quartz mix up with evening black enlighten by gold touches.
To end, marble motifs and colors appear also on precious minaudières, baguettes and shoulder bags as well as sandals and fur shawls.
All pictures: Courtesy of Fendi