Italian fashion house Fendi used soft colours and marbleised patterns for its haute couture collection on Thursday, presenting a line of luxurious gowns and outfits.
Designer Kim Jones said he looked to late Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini's depictions of Rome, where Fendi is based, for inspiration.
He presented the line digitally with a film by Italian director Luca Guadagnino. Models including Kate Moss and her daughter Lila Grace wore embroidered dresses, satin gowns in marbleised prints, embellished jackets and mosaic-like designs.
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"Pasolini observed Rome become modern, and that is what is interesting to me: connecting eras, the old with the new, the past with the present," Jones said in a statement.
"Rome is a fascinating city because it has so many pasts." The British designer stuck to a mainly neutral colour palette, showing plenty of white, cream and shades of brown for his second couture collection at Fendi, which is known for its fur designs.
Models also wore strapless see-through gowns with embroidered florals, ruffled frocks, short lace dresses, printed coats and trouser suits adorned with acorn depictions.
One voluminous dress in soft grey was adorned in floating feathers, while other evening looks included sparkly sequined creations.
Jones, also at the helm of menswear at French fashion house Dior, is artistic director for womenswear and couture at Fendi, part of luxury conglomerate LVMH.
He works alongside the founding family’s scion Silvia Venturini Fendi, who looks after menswear and accessories.
While haute couture week has seen the return of in-person shows as lockdown restrictions ease in France, some brands, like Fendi, have opted for digital presentations.
Meanwhile, over a week ago, Fendi had struck a partnership deal with spectacle maker Thelios to create, produce and distribute the Italian fashion house's eyewear collection.
Thelios is a joint venture between LVMH and Italian spectacle maker Marcolin, in which the luxury group holds a 51% stake.
The Autumn/Winter 2021 collection will be the first to be launched under the new partnership and will include both prescription and sun glasses, the two companies said in a joint press release.
"This collaboration is an important step for both (companies), which are joining forces to increase the appeal of Fendi eyewear and making it a leading brand in the luxury segment," the statement added.
Part of the broader strategy by Paris-based LVMH to expand in eyewear, Thelios produces and distributes glasses for other brands in the group, including Dior, Stella McCartney and Kenzo.
