With Australia fast approaching the dreaded winter solstice; there's never been a more appropriate time to be reminded of the joy in baring all. As if holding the antidote to the winter misery in her hands, Silvia Venturini Fendi's SS22 menswear collection redefined how we see the Fendi man; offering the hot boy summer midriff delight that we have frequently dreamed of but do not deserve.
Set inside Fendi headquarters and against the backdrop of the seven hills of Rome, the Apennine mountains and glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea; nature and architecture came together for a collection that is all about perspective. As Venturini Fendi says; "How you see things – and where you see them from – has never been more important."
A more relaxed but undeniably certain approach to luxury, a palette reminiscent of spring flora and the transient skies takes focus. Shades of lemon and lime, ice blue, lavender, pistachio and peony are complimented by Roman hinterland-informed prints, shapes and workmanship, in an effortless study of proportions and scale. Another notable mention comes deep from the Fendi archives for SS22 menswear; the opening look adorned in an illustrated, cartographic drawing of the city where Palazzo Fendi sits in the centre.
“Our singular point of view in this period has modified our perception of the world – and mine has become so linked to what I see from the arches and the rooftop of our building. It is almost like a bird’s eye view of Rome from here. The colours and the perspective are always changing – the soft palette of the Roman sky across the day is so beautiful and I wanted it to be a focal point of this collection.”
Summer suiting took tailoring to new heights, combining a multitude of materials, shapes and utility details. Signature wool pieces were carefully weaved into the collection; cropped at the torso or split with nylon organza to present a uniquely fresh front.
Where accessories were concerned, an undeniable pull towards playful escapism and subverting everyday objects through stellar craftsmanship was apparent. The baguette appears in a new, shrunken silhouette as a jewellery pouch on a fine silver chain; while the hallmark Peekaboo takes form in a matte nylon finish for the perfect transeasonal touch.
If images can only take you so far, the Fendi SS22 menswear collection can be relieved on film – directed by Nico Vascellari and accompanied by a nine-minute bespoke electronic composition by famed Italian composer Alessandro Cortini. You can rewatch the show in full, below.
