Fendi gives new life to shirtwaist
The Fendi 2011 collection is all about the shirtwaist.
Fendi opened the second day of Milan Fashion Week for spring/summer 2011 with a sophisticated combination of casual and couture focusing on that perennial fashion staple.
Today's version of the shirtwaist, presented on Thursday, has soft lantern sleeves and is cinched at the waist with a colourful leather belt.
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Floral and geometric prints showed up everywhere but the favourite new print was cappuccino, which resembled coffee stains on a table cloth.
Overall, the Fendi summer collection was fresh and feminine, with loose trousers cropped at the ankle, soft tops over knee-length skirts, and a myriad of tunic dresses with a marked waistline and a demure below-the-knee hemline.
The collection's airy feel was due to the techno workmanship of the fabrics; from rubber-stamped organza to nylon seersucker and woven leather.
While Karl Lagerfeld's designing genius has boosted the Fendi success story for decades, the accessory department was given new life by a second-generation Fendi, Silvia Fendi Venturini, daughter of founding sister Anna.
With her "baguette" bag, she gave a new twist to the signature double F of the leather wear.
For this round, she introduced chic medium-sized shoulder bags, handbags and clutch bags in contrasting red, blue and green on a brown leather background.
The latest Fendi footwear had a moderate heel in wood, leather and cork.
