Kim Jones presents the Fendi women's fall winter 2023 collection in Milan.
It all started with Delfina. There’s a chicness but a perversity to the way she twists FENDI, which is what I love.
Collection Notes
For Autumn/Winter 2023, Kim Jones explores classicism and elegance through the lens of subtle subversion. Drawing directly upon the wardrobe of Delfina Delettrez Fendi – how she wears her FENDI archive with an instinctive sense of self-expression – here is a collection that plays with binaries: the exploration and elevation of deconstruction, the interpolation of gendered archetypes, the disturbance of ladylike sophistication. The illusion of insouciance is elegantly constructed, and pieces are designed to be worn in every way.
Masculine tailoring and traditional fabrics are twisted into feminine forms, while elements of utilitarianism appear throughout boilersuits, aprons, and uniforms. Lace is lacquered and layered; flashes of fetishism appear through slips of lingerie peeking through or thigh-high lace-up boots.
A clean-cut mac opens to flash its sequined lining; bias-cut draped dresses or Persian lamb bibs appear with harnessed straps.
Knitwear appears cleanly slashed or gently warped in a perfected perspective on punk. Felted wools are shrunken, ribbed knits left unbuttoned or worn askew. Billowing scarves romantically trail satin dresses with twisted drapes.
It's deconstructed but luxurious. There’s a little nod to punk and my admiration for DIY, but moved on towards something chic. The first day that Delfina walked into work, she was wearing blue and brown, and I thought she looked so great. There’s a chicness but a perversity to the way she twists FENDI, which is what I love.
Motifs
With graphic motifs drawn from the Autumn/Winter 1996 FENDI archive seamlessly expressed in intarsia, alongside Karl Lagerfeld’s 1981 sketches for multipurpose knitwear offering a formative inspiration, the history of the House is reflected anew.
With the introduction of a new handbag, the FENDI Multi, Silvia Venturini Fendi pays homage to that multipurpose sensibility so innate to the House through a shape engineered to transform between two distinct silhouettes. I think what is nice is the bag's movement, that it can be two things in one,” she reflects.
That duality is very FENDI – as is the idea of something which appears simple but, in reality, is very complex.” Other styles, like the newly conceived FENDI C’mon, draw on that same supposed simplicity: “The idea was to create pieces that were very pure to match the sophistication of the collection,” she says.
It is the same spirit echoed in the jewelry designed by Delfina Delettrez Fendi.
I wanted to explore the purity of the double F, locking on the ear. Like the collection, it goes to the very essence of FENDI.
Celebrities
In attendance were iconic actresses Gwendoline Christie, the heroine of “Games of Thrones,” Christina Ricci, the original “Wednesday” of the ‘90s “The Addams Family” and star of 2022 Emmy nominated “Yellow Jackets”.
FENDI-renowned model Winnie Harlow and American Singer Noah Cyrus sat in the front row at the Milan show.
Brazilian Friends of the House, musical artist IZA and model Sasha Meneghel were in attendance, along with Song Hye-Kyo, Korean Star and friend of FENDI.
Further adding to this iconic attendance list were the upcoming musician from Spain, Aitana, the new Thai Friend of Fendi, Bella Renee Campen with other Fendi friends, Song Yuqui, Cheng Xiao, and Greg Hsu.
Haruna Kawaguchi, model and actress from Japan, and "Bling Empire" actress Heart Evangelista took their seats alongside more incredible friends and family of the House, including Leonetta Luciano Fendi, socialites Zita d'Hauteville and Kyra Kennedy, together with Mia Regan, a fresh face from the Fashion Industry.
Front Row
Celebrities
Influencers
Collection
