In 2016, Fendi opened a flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, greeting guests to an exceptional exploration of luxury contemporary fashion. Here, the store carries both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessory collections. Throughout the two-floor space, patina bronze displays and lacquer are seen mimicking colors of the Roman skyline, guiding visitors from special vignettes to private changing rooms, all while glimpsing at images of Roman fountains taken by Karl Lagerfeld. On the ground floor, the men’s collection is seen, as is a spiked gold wall, composed of around 25,000 bronze spikes, creating a unique visual effect where iconic bags resemble trophies. A grand staircase with Navona travertine steps recalls the striking staircase of the newly opened boutique of Palazzo FENDI in Rome, paying homage to the house’s roots. Upstairs, women’s collections are seen, complemented by natural wood floors are furnished with hand-knotted rugs, furniture by FENDI Casa, and other esteemed Italian design houses.
Whitewaller recommends: Trying on garments from the women’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection, the designer Kim Jones’s debut ready-to-wear collection for the maison.