If Lewis Carroll had been a fashion victim, he would’ve had Alice catapulted through the rabbit hole straight to Fendi-land. The label’s new Resort collection would’ve delighted her, with its pops of clashing colors, its trompe l’oeil textures (like a Prince of Wales fabric that was actually shaved shearling), and its array of furs swirling with floral embroideries. The new Mon Trésor mini satchel, encrusted with humongous pearls, would’ve left even the pompous Rabbit speechless.
Fendi is all about extreme, almost decadent luxury tinged with irreverence and joie de vivre, both of which infused a Resort lineup that revolved around three themes. The Sartorial Pop section featured masculine elements jolted with fluorescent colors; flashes of Schiaparelli pink and mimosa yellow gave an energetic vibe to a sleek macro-checked city coat worn with skinny pants, and to a short, boxy jacket paired with an ankle-length pleated skirt. Dreamy, softly sculptural dresses dominated the Blossoming Garden section. Cascades of bright green silk crepe were gathered at the shoulders with black ribbons on a long trapeze dress. It looked eccentric and modern, with an unrestrained feel of movement. Cinched at the waist and with full skirts, a series of hyper-feminine dresses boasted abundant frills sprouting from their surfaces as if they’d been raised in a hothouse tended by a mad gardener.
Macramé lace, fil coupé, silk jacquard, 3-D knit, Shibori-inlaid and intarsia mink, and laser-cut eyelet on fabric and fur showcased the extraordinary savoir faire of Fendi’s ateliers. Which leads us seamlessly to the collection’s third theme, Ribbons and Pearls. Here, black sweatshirts boasted huge ribbons embroidered with rivulets of pearls, which also sneaked along necklines and cuffs; they also graced the edges of a sporty mink bomber whose back was emblazoned with the Fendi logo.
