A key look from the Fendi Spring/Summer 2017 fashion show presented during Milan Fashion Week.
By Miles Socha
Is there anything more carefree than the beach, or a backyard pool? The mood board backstage had Albert Einstein on the beach, his bare legs ending in open-toed, ladylike sandals — and David Hockney next to the bathtub in a bumblebee shirt.
“Sun and fun,” Silvia Venturini Fendi said backstage, wearing a pajamalike shirt in the same painterly stripes she applied to tote bags and cabana shirts that reversed to white terrycloth. She was waiting for someone to ask her if the latter fluff was shearling.
Not a chance, for this was a breezy, unapologetically summery collection that climaxed with fluttering silk pants and botanical print blousons.
There was a mid-century spirit to the boxy blousons in micro checks, the quilted shirt jackets and the belted terrycloth coats, bringing to mind Don Draper up to his usual shenanigans at the Sherry-Netherland hotel.
Models circled the periphery of an elongated bright blue lap pool set, feet shod in slides and lugging a range of weekenders and totes in ticking stripes that Fendi revived from the Seventies. The Roman house also debuted its first men’s eyewear collection in collaboration with Safilo, including round retro-inspired shades.
