The iconic swap of Donatella Versace for Fendi and Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi for Versace. 

In the world of fashion, we don’t often hear the words “entirely new” but after Sunday’s Fendace event, that’s all anyone could say. Fendi and Versace shocked fashion enthusiasts as they swapped houses for one night only during Milan fashion week.

Kate Moss took the runway following her daughter Lila. Other models who walked included Kristen McMenamy, Precious Lee, Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Naomi Campbell, Iman Hammam and Stella Maxwell.

From Supreme to influencers to fast food, collaboration seems to be the trend of the decade. But, leave it to the fashion elite to deconstruct collaboration.

In April, we saw not a collaboration but, Gucci and designer Alessandro Michele “hack” Balenciaga breaking the internet with a refreshingly bold show. In June, Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia “hacked” Gucci back in a digital-meta masterpiece that he deemed a “deep fake of a fashion show”. 

Designers coming together in this way and breaking the barriers of their fashion houses is pushing forward fashion innovation and inspiring groundbreaking designs. These partnerships are radically breaking down classic fashion house tropes and inserting new and sometimes contrasting ideas. 

Fendace was a masterpiece of maximalism leaning heavily on Versace tropes founded by Gianni. The show showcased chain mail, safety pins, Greek symbols, an emphasis on hair (especially seen in the wigs used by Donatella for Fendi), baguette bags and impeccable tailoring.

Kim Jones brought Versace to life in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. His attention to craft brought a more tailored and dare I say, clean look to Versace complemented by movement and masterful styling. 

Pushing Donatella to work outside of Versace brought the element of surprise and wonder back into her craft. Equally parts sexy and elegant silhouettes were embellished with the Fendi logo and Greek symbols in exciting patterns. The classic baguette was edged up with safety pins and made miniature like a small offering to the Gods.

It’s safe to say Kim Jones and Donatella Versace are a match made in fashion heaven.