Sandra‘s Closet

What happened when Donatella Versace and Kim Jones switched roles?
Versace by Fendi and Fendi by Versace, two iconic collections that celebrate their friendship and the cultural impact of Versace and Fendi. For Pre-fall 2022, the two houses joined forces and created FENDACE, for women and men.

The show took place in the courtyard of the Versace family palazzo on Via Gesu in September last year. What went down is that Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi of Fendi (first part of the show) and Donatella Versace of Versace (second part of the show) swapped houses  for one night only to design 25 looks for their erstwhile rivals. Relive the surprise unveiling from Milan and shop the designs from May 12, 2022.

Fendi by Versace on the Versace website and Versace by Fendi on the Fendi website.

Below you can explore my favorite looks. I personally find Donatella’s take stronger than the one by Kim and Silvia.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Versace / Fendi
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Breaking news from LVMH this morning, Kim Jones will join Fendi as artistic director for womenswear collections. In his first substantive foray into womenswear, he will oversee haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur. The designer will continue in his role as artistic director at Dior Homme, another LVHM-owned Maison.

I loved Kim’s first Dior Homme campaign for S/S 2019: shot by the legendary Steven Meisel, models were posing in relaxed tailoring. 

Previously, Jones worked as menswear director at Louis Vuitton, before he moved to Dior’s menswear in 2018 where he invigorated the House by mixing sports and streetwear references with skillful luxury tailoring. Jones even reinterpreted some of the iconic pieces like the Bar Suit for men. Born in 1973 in Hammersmith, London, he is a graduate of Central St Martins College of Art and Design. He was raised in Kenya, where his father worked as a hydrogeologist. Throughout his childhood, he also traveled through Ecuador, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Botswana, and brought this wanderlust into his adult life. He claims to have visited Japan «around 70 or 80 times.»

Celebrity friend: David Beckham wore a Dior Homme suit designed by Kim Jones for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

Jones knows the industry from all angles. As well a being a designer, he’s worked as a stylist and art director for Dazed & Confused, Arena Homme+, Pop, AnOther, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, 10 Men, V Man, i-D, Numéro Homme, and Fantastic Man.

While streetwear’s and activewear’s presence in the luxury fashion sphere might seem normal these days (especially during the recent pandemic), it hasn’t always been the case. However, Kim Jones was one of the first designers to preempt the merge.

Karl Lagerfeld with Silvia Venturini Fendi

With the death of Karl Lagerfeld last year, Fendi lost its designer of more than 54 years. This was the longest time ever, a designer had reigned at a fashion house. Silvia Venturini Fendi, who had stepped into Lagerfeld’s role in the interim, will return to focusing on accessories and menswear collections, Fendi’s statement said.

Punk meets couture: Dior Homme’s ad campaign for F/W 2019

«Kim Jones has continuously proven his ability to adapt to the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and audacity,» said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns both brands.

According to Fendi, Jones will present his first ready-to-wear collection for the label in the F/W 2021 during Milan Fashion Week in February, that will hopefully take place.
Are you ready for the next level of FENDIMANIA?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Fendi / Dior

Today’s world offers so many chances for everyone. What seemed unbridgeable before, such as sportswear and evening attire, high and low fashion or even good or bad taste, has fully merged. People have the chance to show and spread their talents via social media.

Hey Reilly’s illustrations of Lagerfeld and Venturini Fendi are on display in Fendi’s store windows.

Here is a lucky punch that just took place in the world of fashion. One of the most hyped collaborations started with a direct message on Instagram when Silvia Venturini Fendi, the house’s creative director of accessories, menswear, and kids, first spotted @hey_reilly’s Fendi + Fila logo on the Instagram artist’s feed in February last year.

The Scottish creative is known for his tongue-in-cheek monikers. Together with Karl Lagerfeld, who designs Fendi’s womenswear line, Silvia took logomania to this new and exciting form this season. The mashup of Fendi and Fila’s iconic typefaces, a truly viral design, was teased at the F/W 2018 runway show and is now at the core of the Resort 2019 capsule collection.

From left to right: Kan I appliquéd leather shoulder bag and Kan I mini appliquéd leather shoulder bag.

Embroidered cotton-jersey hoodie

From left to right: Logo-embossed leather knee boots and the same version in black/yellow.

You can shop the limited edition pieces at NET-À-PORTER, MATCHESFASHION, and MYTHERESA. A little hint from my side, at Net-à-Porter the prices are for some pieces much cheaper than at the other stores.

I am crazy for these pieces and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fendi and via Instagram @hey_reilly