It was one of the monumental moments of Milan Fashion Week last September, with two highly competitive Italian houses unexpectedly teaming up for a thrilling new “collaboration.” Indeed, Roma’s Fendi and Milano’s Versace combined stylistic forces to introduce the quite cleverly named Fendace to rapturous reviews.
To be sure, the press went wild for it, and social media lit up about it. Now the fashion-loving public will at last have access to the ‘Versace x Fendi’ collection, with specialty pop-up boutiques, well, popping up in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Dubai, Tokyo and beyond next Thursday, May 12 (oddly, none in Italy), and a gorgeous campaign shot by Steven Meisel.
“It’s a swap rather than a collaboration,” insists Kim Jones, Artistic Director Fendi Couture and Womenswear. “And most of all, it is done out of friendship. It is the beauty of togetherness after time apart and a celebration of women who have inspired me so much.”
And who doesn’t love to see the fashion world getting on so swimmingly – especially in a time of such severe social and cultural rupture?
The corresponding Alec Maxwell directed campaign film leaves no doubt about how this essential collection could be to a truly glamorous night out, which is obviously something we’ve been deprived of for far too long. Models Amar Akway, Anja Rubik, Imaan Hammam, Lina Zhang and a strikingly ethereal looking Kristen McMenamy, with her emerald accented platinum locks, cue up to enter the Fendace “nightclub,” and once inside decisively get their groove on to (very Miss Kittin sounding) minimalist electro…no boys necessary.
Donatella Versace herself enthuses, “The campaign captures the same sense of friendship and energy we had when we were designing the collection. Kim is a visionary designer and innovator, and to me, Fendace will always mean love.”
And love is all we need.
The ‘Versace x Fendi’ pop-up boutiques will be open globally through June 19.
