The fairy tale behind Fendi's 90th anniversary show

Once upon a time in via del Plebiscito, Rome, there was a small boutique founded by Edoardo and Adele Fendi next to their fur and leather workshop. Many years after that couple’s shop has become an international brand, pearl of Italian luxury, which has just turned 90.

To celebrate this anniversary Karl Lagerfeld, long-time creative director of the House, transformed a hot Roman summer evening in a world of goblins and fairies, princesses, castles and enchanted landscapes.

On a plexiglass catwalk on the water of the Trevi Fountain, the German designer presents a collection inspired by a Nordic fairy tale of the early twentieth century entitled East of sun and west of the moon by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe Engebretsen, but famous for Kay Nielson illustrations, recently reprinted by Taschen.

This jewel of Art Nouveau graphic becomes a play inlays, precious manufacturing, lace, embroidery that makes every single piece seen on the catwalk, from fur to clothing empire building, in a romantic light. There is poetry hidden in the details, hand-painted illustrations, reinterpretations of the original book, now made by Katy Bailey and Charlotte Gastaut.

There's magic in the blue coat with three thousand Persian handmade holes and mink applications (worn by Kendall Jenner), in the trees of the forest, in the floral appliques, in the daisies in bright yellow that decorate each garment, Victorian boots in elastic mesh, in the new "Once upon a bag" as well as in the hood on which a prince is lost in the face of his lover's reflection in the waves of the lake.

Fendi charms 200 spectators, among whom Kate Hudson, Bella Thorne, Carine Roitfeld, Ginevra Elkann, Delettrez Delfina Fendi, Claudio Santamaria, Chiara Ferragni and Kasia Smutniak.

At the end of show Lagerfeld launches three coins in the Trevi Fountain.

Other desires.

Other tales to imagine, create, wear.