FAUX REAL Fendi

Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi brought the highest form of “imitation” to couture for their fall 2018 presentation. Known as one of the oldest and most luxurious furriers — coats of mink, astrakhan and fox being par for the course — the house took a turn with trompe-l’oeil interpretations of their fuzzy signatures. Think shirred, micro-fringed chiffon that mimicked the look and shape of an intarsia-treated skirt suit — just one of many creative examples of how the design duo brought faux to the fore. But the collection wasn’t without the real thing, offering jackets and stoles made up of the genuine article. Fendi isn’t ready to embrace the “fur is murder” zeitgeist just yet, but at the very least, they’re offering the customer a smart and chic alternative. As one of the oldest and most storied fur makers, that still says something.