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Fendi was decidedly the star of the opening day of Milan Fashion Week. Image Credit: Instagram @milanfashionweek

The eagerly-anticipated Milan Fashion Week has kicked off and back in the in-person format. The Fall/Winter 2022 collection showcased on the opening day saw several bright moments. However, it was designer Kim Jones who stole the show with a journey to Fendi’s past to serve as inspiration for his new line.

Following New York Fashion Week and preceding London Fashion Week, The opening day of Italy’s preeminent fashion extravaganza will see attendance by titans of the industry such as Prada, Giorgio Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

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This 2022 Milan Fashion Week returns to an in-person format. Image Credit: Instagram @milanfashionweek

For its latest collection, Fendi focused on chiffon. The show which was opened by model Bella Hadid, adorned in a pale pink chiffon slip dress, complemented with a fur jacket and green gloves, evoked positive reactions. For her part, Bella exuded effortless panache and elegance.

Kim explained how he drew inspiration from the brand’s past, and how two collections in particular proved as a source of inspiration. These included Karl Lagerfeld’s Fendi's Spring/Summer 1986 and Fall/Winter 2000 collections.

The designs were replete with nostalgia, while being in touch with the times – a paradox, and therefore an achievement. Plaid trousers, high-waisted skirts and body-hugging tops were the order of the day.

Accessories were not ignored either. Venturini Fendi celebrated a quarter-century anniversary of the Baguette bag. The brand celebrated the occasion with a re-issue of the bag in cashmere with leather and mink.