Cycling shorts and utility belts are hot for SS19 at Fendi

We’re two weeks into a month of pure, unadulterated fashion, as designers put forward what they’ve been working on for SS19 in cities around the world. With NY and London down, we just landed in Milan ready to see what the likes of Mrs Prada and Queen Donatella have in store for us. First up, though, was Karl Lagerfeld’s latest Fendi show. Here’s everything you need to know.

NICKI MINAJ HELD UP THE SHOW

... arriving last minute in a full-on Fendi x Fila mash-up look from the Italian label’s collaboration with artist Hey Reilly, a bobbed platinum blonde wig, and a logo headband. There were no flying Elie Saab heels in sight, FYI.

THE SET WAS MILLENNIAL PINK

The show took place at the usual Fendi show venue, on Via Andrea Solari, where the backdrop was millennial pink. At the centre was a huge Fendi logo, which the models emerged from as the show began.

CYCLING SHORTS ARE BACK, APPARENTLY

While Silvia Venturini proposed uber-short, bum-skimming hot pants for the (brave) Fendi man at her menswear show in June, for the girls Karl has a different style in mind: technical cycling shorts. As worn by Bella Hadid as she made her way down the runway, the style was quilted with the FF logo and worn with a boxy shirt cinched in at the waist with one of Fendi SS19’s key accessories – a leather, multi-pocket utility belt. Think your friendly neighbourhood handyman, but make it fashion.

A HOST OF FAMILIAR FACES WALKED

Former Dazed covergirl Adwoa Aboah opened the show in a transparent raincoat with tan leather panelling and pockets, before the likes of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, Adesuwa, and Sara Grace Wallerstedt followed close behind her. If you’re wondering, Adwoa’s hair is no longer the pink she had it dyed pink as part of Marc Jacobs’ candy-hued show last week in NY.

THE REST OF THE COLLECTION WAS V FENDI 

... featuring lots of monogrammed styles, including leather pencil skirts, jackets, and bowling bags in neon hues. Elsewhere, models wore soft leather trench coats, boxy shirts and wide cargo pants with big utility pockets, and a number of skirt and blouse sets featuring embroidered phoenix motifs. The tiny shade trend is apparently going nowhere either, with round, mirrored styles and perspex Fendi-logo and polka-dot cat-eye shades featured throughout.