Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/732873
PhotograPhy by Victor VirgiLE/gamma-raPho Via gEtty imagEs (hadid); VEnturELLi/WirEimagE (VEnturini); courtEsy of fEndi (sistErs, bag) Botticelli-esque empire waists; white lace dresses buried in appliquéd flowers; and lavish fabrications such as lush layers of tulle and velvet—pieces that look like they hail from the enchanted forest. Part and parcel of the 90th-anniversary collection, Fendi has released a limited- edition Selleria Peekaboo handbag, a one-of-a-kind accessory made entirely by hand in 60 pieces. The bag features punto baseball, or baseball stitching, a larger-form stitching technique handed down through the generations by Roman master saddlers. The Peekaboo bags are exclusively sold at the Palazzo Fendi boutique in Rome. And, if you happen to be in the Italian capital, head to the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, where you will find "Fendi Roma: The Artisans of Dreams" (through October 29), an exhibition that celebrates the maison's nine decades of craftsmanship and creativity. For those who can't make it to Rome, the short film Fendi: Hands Make Beauty highlights the brand's evolution, and the coffee-table book Fendi Roma, a recent release from Assouline, explores Fendi's connection with the Eternal City. Lagerfeld, now 83, says he's still brimming with ideas and is given the freedom to create what he wants at Fendi. So expect plenty more from Italian Karl in years to come. It's not work, he insists. "Work is when a person wakes up every morning and goes to do something they don't like," he says. "I have the chance of doing something I love and doing it [in] the best conditions... I'm interested in a lot of things, even more today than before. I like to change while the world is changing. That's what fashion is all about!" Saks Fifth Avenue, Prudential Center, 617-937-5271; fendi.com . "fendi is italian to its core. it's not only italian—it's roman." —karl lagerfeld The Fendi Five: The Fendi sisters took over the company from their parents, Adele and Edoardo, who founded it in 1926. right: The brand continues its handbag dominance with the Selleria Peekaboo bag, exclusive to the flagship boutique in Rome. Ménage à duo: Fendi has two creative directors—Karl Lagerfeld for ready-to-wear and Silvia Venturini Fendi, the inventor of the game- changing Baguette bag, for men's and accessories. left: Bella Hadid in an elaborately embroidered cape. 64 bostoncommon-magazine.com Style tastemaker