Kim Jones made his Fendi debut just last month during the Spring 2021 Couture season with a star-studded runway, and now the British designer is back with his very first ready-to-wear collection for the label. Calling upon the codes of the storied Roman house, which was led by the late Karl Lagerfeld for an astounding 54 years, the new Fall 2021 collection is as practical as it is captivating.
“I’m taking the amazing, strong women who I both know and work with, and listening to their needs,” Jones said in a press release, noting that he drew particular inspiration from the five Fendi sisters themselves. “There’s a usefulness to the collection, explored in a chic, timeless way,” he continued. Echoes of their pinstriped office attire can be seen in silken shirting (both cropped and billowing) and carefully crafted wool tailoring, while Silvia Venturini Fendi’s daily uniform—a utilitarian shirt jacket—has been upgraded with shearling with a bonded mink interior. Elsewhere, diaphanous silk frocks and delicate organza embroideries adorning jacquard knits make a convincing case for dressing up (or, erm, getting dressed at all).
And, as the brand behind the Baguette, one of the very first Carrie Bradshaw-approved It bags, there are new pouches and purses worthy of filling a closet from top to bottom. (Of course, the iconic style gets a makeover as well thanks to intricate wood inlays found in 6th century Benedictine monasteries.) The season’s clutch—available in shearling, leather, and exotic skins and known as the Fendi First—comes in sizes ranging from teensy-tiny to extra roomy. Meanwhile, those looking for an even larger silhouette will welcome the Way tote, or a fluffy cream-colored shopper that is sure to make appearances on the feeds of street style stars the world round—and in the forthcoming Sex and the City reboot, too.
Below, watch Fendi’s Fall 2021 runway show.
