Fendi A/W 2020 Milan Fashion Week Women's

Scene setting: At the brand’s Via Solari show space, Fendi switched up its regular runway seating, swapping rows of hard benches for soft boudoir-style sofas in the sugariest of soft pink. The sorbet-shaded switch up was also echoed in luxurious carpet, which sumptuously lined the runway.

Mood board: The mood evoked forties Hollywood glamour — worthy of screen sirens like Ava Gardner or Ginger Rogers — with a touch of kink. Models emerged ladylike, sporting plaited chignons and reverse headbands and wearing sugary pink satin dresses with puffed sleeves or rows of beaded tassels, slinky grey knit dresses with corset details, flared officer coats and silk opera gloves. Hemlines sophisticatedly skimmed the knee and transparent lace, leather, leopard print, lingerie details and sporty reflective sunglasses added dominatrix drama. Fendi’s femme fatale’s oozed a soft yet seductive glamour – a concept also explored on Prada’s A/W 2020 runway just hours before.

Team work: Italian musician Alessandro Cortini – best known for being the keyboard player in the Nine Inch Nails – created the show’s soundtrack. Fendi also teamed up with Chaos’ Charlotte Stockdale and Katie Lyall, known for their tech accessories (with most of fashion’s front row sporting their monogrammed phone cases) on a series of charm-like ‘tech’ jewellery pieces. These included gold AirPod cases, lighters and even a shot glass set, which clipped onto bags or hung like tools from belts. A scribble pen hung as an asymmetric earring, which functioned on paper or tablets alike. For Fendi’s femme fatale, function is as important as frou frou.