We're not really used to seeing a kinder, gentler Karl Lagerfeld. But that is the Karl that Milan saw when he sent his feminine, light, romantic collection for Fendi down the runway. The models all wore six inch heels that featured lucite platforms and ribbon ties. The girls could barely walk, so that gave the audience more time to look at each piece. The palette was mostly pastels, with gauzy, billowing skirts, shirts and dresses and an occasional pop of color. Karl called it the "soutien gorgeous" look, making up a new term which is a play on the French term for brassiere, soutien gorge. There were quite a few peek-a-boo bras in the collection, which means that the lingerie look is back. The black and white pieces were especially pretty.
The frayed end trend -- which also showed up at Prada -- was in full evidence. Karl explained the unfinished, raw edges thusly: "It's about new clothes, but taken apart again." It's sheer nonsense, of course, but that's Karl. Sometimes we wonder if he pushes things far enough just to see what he can by with. He does have a wicked sense of humor and can sell anything to anyone, as he has admitted in past interviews. Ripped, shredded and frayed will be a definite, yet mercifully short-lived, trend next spring. Take a look:
