All the stripes

Silvia Venturini Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld are feeling sporty. For SS17, their Fendi collection was somewhat more casual than we are used to, and, low and behold, almost fur-less! Stripes, on the other hand, came in all colours, horizontal and vertical, thick and pinstripe, on crop tops, oversized shirt dresses, jackets, bags, cargo trousers, even on knitted sock boots. As well as relaxed, the clothes were quite utilitarian. Large pockets, wide, comfortable trousers cuffed just above the ankle and the turtleneck jumpers will have a life long after the season is over. The silk, striped aprons tied around waists with trousers underneath were a smart and much more wearable take on the skort. The collection had a much younger vibe than usual, if only due to the cutesy pigtails and oversized pastel studs all over the models’ hair. Super glittery lips further added to the youthful look. Then there were the pinks, the super short skirts and the mix between tight and roomy that felt really modern too. Fendi is hungry for a new customer and after this collection, they will sure get what they want.

One girl, many looks

Halfway through the show, however, there as quite an unexpected change in the clothing. From a sporty young woman, the feeling turned to a more pretty-pretty girl. Skirts came lower down, super-light silk and organza were the fabric of choice, floral prints and embroideries, the inevitable ruffles, sensual sheer garments and necklines were cut out to resemble a butterfly Sleeves were scalloped, colours much more subdued, the only hint of this being the same girl were the same sock booties worn throughout. Perhaps the contrasting styles were a comment on fashion and dressing today. People take on a different persona for different situations, a clear-cut personal style is becoming blurred. Instead, customers are becoming more adventurous with their choices, mixing things that at first might seem completely at odds with each other. Why could one woman not have a wardrobe where feminine skirts, frills and bows hang next to more tougher, graphic, even masculine pieces? In fact, this is a very modern concept and a clever one. By offering a greater variety of styles, it surely means a greater variety of customers, and isn’t that what all designers aim for?

Charmed

Fendi is, of course, loved for its bags, especially since the little fur monster took over everyone’s handbags, and every single high street shop it seems. For SS17, the bags are again having a lot of fun. Handles and straps came laden with bright patters, they were scalloped or made out of cut out flowers and circles. Butterfly, bow and floral patterns made out of pastel studs and velvet adorned the body itself, while little figures dressed in a Fendi fur coat, all big-eyed and with a tuft of fur hair, set to become everyone’s accessory of choice no doubt, were hanging off the side of them. Fendi dubbed it ‘little games for adults.’ There are no words more appropriate to sum up the collection.