Kim Jones is Shaking Things Up at Fendi
Paris Fashion Week saw Kim Jones debut his first womenswear collection at the much-anticipated Fendi Couture Spring 2021 show. Filling the intimidating shoes of fashion legend, Karl Lagerfeld, Jones did not disappoint as his well-appointed successor.
He is a designer predominantly known for his high fashion menswear collections and his ability to infuse subtle street style elements—resulting in successful collaborations between Louis Vuitton X Supreme and Dior X Air Jordan. Jones has helped steer menswear into the future and has garnered several awards and accolades as a result.
Kim Jones’ Fendi Show
The Cast of Fendi's Runway Show
Fendi's spring show, with Jones at the helm, saw a star-studded cast walk the runway. Mixing family, fashion royalty and a dash of Hollywood glamour all on one runway, the runway felt like a familiar scene, despite Jones' newness to womenswear. As a fashion house all about family, the show saw Kate Moss walk with daughter Lila Grace, Christy Turlington with nephew James, and Adwoa Aboah with sister Kesewa. Keeping with the family theme, Fendi's jewellery designer Delfina Delettrez Fendi and younger sister, Leonetta, also took to the runaway.
Image: @fendi
And as if that list of figures wasn't enough, Demi Moore also made a surprise runway appearance, opening the show in a silken off-the-shoulder jacket, black wide-leg trousers and statement earrings. Catwalk sweethearts Bella Hadid and Cara Delavigne also appeared with iconic Naomi Campbell closing the show.
Image: @fendi
The Inspiration
Fendi's Instagram hinted at the diverse inspiration behind the show, drawing “from the visual language of Bernini's marbles to Virginia Woolf's time-travelling, gender-blurring novel Orlando, the show navigates a unique journey from the British Bloomsbury to Rome's Galleria Borghese.”
Jones had a fairly nomadic upbringing but spent time in a village in East Sussex. It was here that Jones frequented Charleston – home of the Bloomsbury Group. This group was composed of English writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists from the first half of the 20th century, of which writer Virginia Woolf was a member. Jones has been a long-time lover of Woolf, amassing a collection of 'Orlando' first editions.
With this show, the designer aimed to weave the rich history and familial ties of Fendi with the Bloomsbury group's bohemian ethos and the time-travelling androgyny of Woolf's Orlando. He also drew inspiration from sketches left behind by his predecessor, Lagerfeld.
Fendi's Spring 2021 Collection
Renowned for his work in menswear, this collection marked Kim Jones' first foray into women's fashion in years. Looking at the designs, though, you'd think he's a regular to it. The Fendi Spring Collection 2021 showcased 19 looks varying from tailored suits to floaty, ethereal gowns.
Image: @fendi
Hadid wore a beautiful body-hugging, watery blue gown with sheer overlay whilst Grace turned heads in a showstopping, sheer pearl latticed gown. Campbell closed the show in a marble print motif reminiscent of Woolf's hand-painted books and the stones at Rome's Galleria Borghese.
Image: @fendi
Kate Moss acted as accessories consultant, which saw models in silky, embroidered boots and adorned with exquisite chandelier earrings—meticulously crafted by Fendi jewellery creative director Delfina Delettrez Fendi.
Who is Kim Jones?
Hailing from humble Hammersmith in West London, Kim Jones is a British fashion designer with an already illustrious career. Jones first major role was as Creative Director of Dunhill in 2008, before being named Style Director of the men's ready-to-wear division at Louis Vuitton in 2011. In 2019, he moved into the coveted position of Creative Director at Dior Men, and in 2020 took on the additional role of Artistic Director of couture and womenswear collections at Fendi, a role previously occupied by Karl Lagerfeld.
So talented is Jones that he was awarded the OBE by the Queen for his services to fashion. He has paved the way with his contributions to men's fashion, but he truly claimed the global fashion throne with his latest role at Fendi fashion house. Needless to say, he made a memorable debut for Fendi.
Image: @fendi
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