A Noble Pursuit
Review of Fendi Fall 2024 Fashion Show
By Angela Baidoo
THE COLLECTION
THE VIBE
THE THEME
The Fendi Mans calling seems intertwined with the utilitarian, he is a doer in the sense that every few seasons we see how the brand can translate for the masters of trade – carpenters and tailors in spring 2024 and the humble gardener in spring 2020 – for fall 2024 Artistic Director Silvia Venturini Fendi mused on “…the noble pursuits of the great outdoors, streamlined by the swagger of the city” according to the show notes.
Considering what the move towards a hybrid lifestyle means sartorially speaking, this was a collection which gave equal attention to both town and country. Especially now those lines have been blurred irrevocably. Leather field jackets – country – were styled with Fendi’s take on the Scottish Kilt, again country, but which could stray into the world of town, as the reworking into pleated shorts which included a construction detail of a low crotch, almost creating the illusion of a pleated skirt was inventive. And was a way for the idea of breaking with traditional masculine codes of dress to play out without seeming overwrought. As the sight of a man in a skirt is no longer shocking, actually playing with the idea of ‘Is it, Isn’t it?’ is a much more interesting conversation.
This was outdoor living for a new generation, who have not gone full mountain man but are curiously considering the concept of off-grid living, and are trying it on for size, in waxed outerwear, wool shacket sets, and Wellington boots – in leather!
THE BUZZWORDS
Re-categorising classics, filtered necessity, subtle shine
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Look #55
Decadence the Fendi way. A shimmering lurex knit polo with a sheer finish is a wardrobe staple, with a subversive twist, but paired with a tank top worn as a skirt, and this look is a reflection of how men are open to breaking with convention.
THE DIRECTION
THE WRAP UP
Fendi’s Town Vs Country mash-up from the perspective of the upper echelons of the fashion industry, shows how the 1% would dip a toe into the world outside of their home comforts. With the uniformity of all-weather outerwear and sturdy boots given an update when paired with slouchy corduroys and fuzzy wool coats – which were actually mohair textures shredded to resemble ‘fringed furs’. It is obvious that the appreciation for a slower pace of living is there, but in acknowledging the way that city living is also an essential pursuit for many, a new dialogue of mutual appreciation has been brokered between the generations of Fendi customer both old and new.
