Fendi’s 100th-anniversary show was a spectacle worth the wait, unfolding within a runway designed to reflect the brand’s original atelier—where the Fendi family once hosted intimate social salons in the 1960s and ’70s. This milestone event seamlessly wove together past, present, and future, celebrating a century of craftsmanship, innovation, and legacy.

Silvia Venturini Fendi set a deeply personal tone, recalling her first encounter with the house—walking the runway at just six years old in a Karl Lagerfeld-designed equestrian outfit. In a touching full-circle moment, her grandchildren, Tazio and Dardo, now six, symbolically opened the doors at the end of the runway, dressed in miniature replicas of that same look. Their presence underscored the five generations of Fendi’s enduring creative lineage.

Rather than a literal retrospective, the collection distilled Fendi’s essence through its enduring codes. Slouchy knit beanies draped with netting paid tribute to Adele Fendi, the house’s matriarch, who often framed her face with delicate veiling. Chignon hairstyles twisted into infinity symbols elegantly nodded to the idea of continuity and timelessness.

The co-ed collection balanced menswear and womenswear, playing with textures and techniques that have defined the brand for decades. Striped mohair knits, tonal embroidered embellishments, and zigzag mink coats reflected Fendi’s mastery of luxurious materials. While menswear pieces—like a striking lemon-yellow caban coat—stood out, womenswear remained the heart of the collection.

Fendi’s signature fur craftsmanship was subtly reinterpreted, avoiding excess but maintaining its presence through collarless coats, shearling stoles resembling oversized lapels, and removable mohair accents. As the house prepares to open a new "fur atelier" in its upcoming Milan flagship store, the collection reaffirmed its ongoing expertise in the material.

Throughout the lineup, Silvia infused nods to different decades, yet avoided anchoring the collection to a single era. Lace-edged drop-waist gowns referenced a coat she once coveted from Fendi’s 1966 collection, while pequin-striped dresses, quilted leather pieces, and check separates subtly echoed influences from the 1920s, ’50s, ’70s, and ’80s. “I touched different decades, but I also try to avoid a specific one,” Silvia noted. “When something is beautiful, it’s beautiful always.”

Since Karl Lagerfeld introduced ready-to-wear to Fendi in 1977, the house has continued to evolve, and Silvia Venturini Fendi’s anniversary collection proved that it remains as relevant, refined, and forward-thinking as ever. If this show resonates with Tazio and Dardo as profoundly as the 1966 runway did for their grandmother, then Fendi’s creative future is in safe hands for generations to come.