The Fendi Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture Show, under the creative supervision of Artistic
Director Kim Jones, was a salute to Karl Lagerfeld’s futurism while embracing a profound sense
of humanity. The collection, which debuted in Paris on January 25, had a compelling mix of
retro-meets-futuristic elements, accented with beautifully crafted embroidery and decorations.
Jones debuted the new Scatola silhouette, designed to follow the shape of the feminine body and
embellished with primordial crocodile designs that intermingled flawlessly with priceless
Baguette versions by Silvia Venturini Fendi and magnificent eyewear by Delfina Delettrez. The
runway was converted into a show of contrasts, with austere black and nude column dresses next
to lavishly sequined ensembles that swung with each step.
The collection saw structure and embellishment as inextricably linked, with each garment
precisely made to evoke a feeling of precision and emotion. Audible gasps rang throughout the
arena as models marched down the catwalk in finely fluffed, fringed, and feathered outfits that
piqued the interest of haute couture lovers.
Celebrities such as Zendaya and Reese Witherspoon, together with her daughter Ava Phillippe,
sat in the front row, adding to the show’s attraction. The designs on exhibit exemplified the
brilliance of haute couture, with fabric ripples, sheer beaded ombré gowns, and gossamer-thin
silks that exuded an ethereal beauty.
The show notes praised the skilled craftspeople behind the scenes, including embroiderers,
tailors, pattern cutters, leather workers, dressmakers, and furriers, whose expertise brought Jones’
vision to reality. The collection smoothly mixed clean, rigid items with whimsical accents,
exemplified by the fluffed-up fringed coats that injected individuality into each outfit.
While there were many red carpet-worthy designs, Jones’ dashes of impractical whimsy wowed
the crowd. The accessories, which ranged from supersize Baguettes to minuscule versions held
delicately in the palms of models’ hands, offered another element of interest to the collection.
In essence, the Fendi Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 Show demonstrated Kim Jones’s creative
prowess, flawlessly blending history and innovation to create a fascinating spectacle that
represented the past, present, and future of couture fashions.
