Fendi arrived on the runway via the desert sands of the Middle East to present their spring/summer 2014 collection in Milan. The models, clad in shades of terracotta, ochre, chalk, and coal, paraded over a transformed stage set of sweeping sand dunes brought in by the Roman fashion house.
The suits were slim and trim, in shiny satins of earthy tones that kept the look desert-dapper. There were also moments of urban preppiness-meets-sleek sportswear, where oversized coats and glossy anoraks were matched with loose fitting T-shirts in sun-faded colors.
Function and utility has been cropping up a lot in the Milan shows, and Silvia Venturini Fendi has assertively injected a workwear feel to the collection. Utilitarian jackets, functional blousons and multi-purpose parkas played a part, as did a double-faced blazer that can be turned inside out, accessorized by a foldable briefcase. That said, there were also leather trousers and coats, the practicality of which is a little harder to decipher.
The collection crosses seasons, and the individual pieces can be worn just as well alone as they can with the whole ensemble. With weekender bags, baggy knits, and chic shirts there is something for every Fendi man, desert traveller or not.
