Fendi Celebrates 25 Years of the Baguette Bag in New York
Two months after an official announcement, Fendi hosted a special fashion show at the Hammerstein Ballroom celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Fendi Baguette purse on September 9. The runway that took place amid New York Fashion Week also marked two years of designer Kim Jones at the helm of Fendi’s womenswear and couture lines.
The Fendi Baguette
The iconic Fendi Baguette handbag was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of Fendi label founders Edoardo and Adele Fendi. Since its creation in 1997, the bag has gone on to become one of the brand’s signature silhouettes with its rectangular shape, single, short strap, and flap closure featuring a metal FF clasp.
A major part of the Baguette’s mainstream success comes from the bag’s recurrent appearances on Sex and the City (2008), where it was portrayed as Carrie Bradshaw’s go-to handbag. The Baguette’s feature on the show was so meaningful that for its 2021 reboot, Fendi created a hot pink, sequined limited-edition. One of the biggest appeals of the Baguette is its versatility, as well as its many renditions, which make it a classic go-to accessory. Throughout the years, the Baguette has been reiterated in a creative assortment of textures, colors, and sizes — everything from dark blue denim to mint green cashmere.
A Quarter-Centennial Celebration
For the celebratory fashion show, Kim Jones tapped American designer Marc Jacobs and jeweller Tiffany & Co. as collaborators. The result was a runway featuring a mixture of classic Fendi elements and fresh perspectives, courtesy of Marc Jacobs.
The collection’s looks celebrated the Baguette purse, in every possible way. Models carried one or multiple handbags ranging in size — from traditional to mini. Some sported tiny Baguette recreations on their beanies, boots, gloves, and caps, while others had baguette charms swinging from other clothing pieces. One of the night’s most notable pieces was the Tiffany blue baguette, from Tiffany & Co.’s capsule.
For the first half of the show, Fendi showcased a combination of muted tones and attention-grabbing colors. The Italian fashion house’s take on the 2022 neon green and pink trend through accent pieces brought a spark of color to the outfits. The show then shifted focus to moodier navy blue and brown shades, with contrasting blue highlights that made each look more eye-catching than the next. The final segment of the show was light, with a series of monochromatic white outfits and hints of Fendi’s classic neon yellow.
Fendi, known for its leather and fur, brought both materials to the runway. White leather gloves contrasted against large, fur bucket hats on the runway. But the creative team behind the show took the outfits to another level, not hesitating to mix a variety of textures. Looks on the runway also featured sequined, nylon, and even tulle pieces, blended to create unique ensembles.
Being a major luxury brand, Fendi’s show attracted a star-studded list of attendees. Watching the show live from New York city were the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, and, of course, Sex and the City’s actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who actually contributed with a Baguette design to the show. Other stars in attendance included the South Korean superstar Lee Minho, as well as Fendi’s ambassadors Song Hye Kyo, and Latin pop star Danna Paola.
With another successful collaboration in its portfolio, Fendi ended the first day of New York Fashion Week with a bang. In the midst of the Y2K revolution, Fendi’s revival of the baguette brought a timeless accessory back into the spotlight.
Want more fashion content? Check out our Creative Spotlight on Tanner Fletcher here!
