What happened when Kim met Kim
KIM KARDASHIAN WEST
is one half of a new power couple. But this time it’s of the fashion variety. Joining forces with her fellow Kim (surely a sign this was written in the stars) – Kim Jones, the artistic director of Fendi – this month sees the release of the Fendi x Skims capsule collection. Billed as a ‘capsule wardrobe for the modern woman’, it stars the formfitting silhouettes that has made Kardashian West’s brand into a knockout success, blending it with the codes of the Italian luxury house.
According to Jones, the idea emerged when he and his team were in the studio in Rome. ‘Suddenly, all the women went silent and started looking at their phones. I didn’t know what was going on, but they were waiting for the launch of the new Skims collection. I thought: let’s do something together.’ Kim K adds: ‘Both Fendi and Skims have a cultural power very different from each other, but equally as strong. We share a desire to push boundaries, think different and challenge convention, which is why we found so much common ground collaborating on this collection.’
The result? It’s the chill LA girl of Skims transported to the haute Italian elegance of Fendi. Colours are neutral or bold and saturated, and there is a Fendi x Skims hybrid logo found splashed across everything from hosiery and underwear to va-va-voom leather-wrap and second-skin dresses. You’ll also find new versions of the Baguette and Peekaboo bags, and recycled nylon sportwear.
The collection chimes with the arrival of a collaborative spirit in fashion (see also the co-creative director roles inhabited now by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons at Prada), which has emerged during the pandemic, including ones between brands that might typically be considered competitors. Like they say: teamwork makes the dream work (or, in this case, dream buys).
Fendi x Skims is available now at a pop-up in Selfridges. Launching 9 November at fendiskims.com and Fendi boutiques