The Opening Of The New Fendi HQ In Rome

The New Fendi HQ

Today will go down as a very important day in the history of Fendi. As the brand gets ready to celebrate it's ninetieth anniversary, they are also relocating their headquarters to a stunning Roman palace, Palazzo Della Civilita Italiana. Commissioned by Facist dictator Benito Mussolini and designed by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula and Mario Romano, the monument opened in 1942 for an International Expo that was cancelled because of World War II.

Fendi is very devoted to it's beloved city of Rome and is committed to restorations of iconic monuments with the palazzo and Trevi Fountain being the most recent ones. After going through various renovations, the Palazzo is now ready for the big move. The label has signed a fifteen year lease and will be paying an annual rent of 2.6 million Euros. The building includes office space for 450 Fendi employees, fur ateliers, Fendi archives along with an exhibition space and a café.

This evening, the label will celebrate it's move the new HQ in a spectacular way with a never seen before light installation called Poem of Light by artist Mario Nanni. "A rising sun, characterized by a deep red, will appear from the stairs and, beating time, it will become white at midday.  The same night it will also unveiled the new permanent lighting of the Palazzo, conceived always by Mario Nanni: an architectural light with increasing shades and intensity will illuminate the columns of the building, creating a unique effect on the light perspective" quotes the press release. The best part: The entire event will be live streamed tonight at 7:45pm CET on www.fendi.com. For now, please enjoy a teaser video I'm posting below of the new Fendi headquarters.

#FendiHQ

 

Fendi Shearling Mania!

 

As if Karlito bag charms and the new micro bags weren't causing a frenzy amongst the fashion flock, Fendi has now gone a step further and released a whole bunch of Shearling goodies. Yes, you heard me. For the FW15  Fendi has used mainly shearling to revamp some of their icons like their Peekaboo bags, the micro peekaboo and baguettes and the 3Baguette chain. The range also includes ankle boots and some outerwear that is simply to die for. The brand has released a super fun video to celebrate this collection which I am posting below. Go ahead, join the #ShearlingMania

 

 

 

 

 

Dior SS 16

Set within a magnificent mountain like 43,000 square foot tent covered in 400,000 stalks of Delphinium flowers (courtesy Bureau Betak), the setting for the Dior SS16 show was nothing short of a spectacle. Inside, the feminine, floral décor was juxtaposed with a futuristic runway and seating of all white with four swivel arms covered in fifty projectors. And this juxtaposition was exactly what the clothes were all about. Masculine versus feminine, future versus the past.

The show opened with a cotton lingerie style top and shorts in all white, featuring scalloped hems. Worn under stiff organza dresses, sweaters and jackets, this look was recurrent throughout the collection. What I loved about the collection were contrasts seen. The masculine bar jackets came with flowy micro pleats at the hems. There were Raf's versions of parka jackets. He stripped them from their utilitarian and rugged status and instead made them soft, girly and desirable as hell. Who wouldn't want to wear a pleated silk parka? Scallop hemmed and cropped sculptural sweaters featuring oversized and rounded shoulders paired with feminine organdie shorts or a high low shirt dress further proved the designer's love for contrasts. Finally, a Dior show is never complete without exceptionally tailored suits. And so there were three piece pinstriped pantsuits (one worn with a funky leather top)and extremely trendy short suits.

Meanwhile, the accessories will end up being the season's most coveted. No surprises there. Scarf like chokers with dangling 1947 and the number 8 metal charms will be seen on every IT girl and replicated by every high street chain there is. New bag shapes were also seen, one being a tube shaped purse with the cannage detailing on the sides which is now on my wishlist.

In an era that is fuelled by fast fashion, Raf took the road less travelled. His focus was on garment construction and techniques. He wanted to create clothes that won't be replaced. "My heart goes very much to trying to concentrate on a wardrobe that you can evolve with," explains the designer on an interview posted on Dior Mag. And that is just what he delivered. 

J'adore.