BAZAAR

THE BAGUETTEAlthough Fendi’s Baguette has secured its status asan iconic style, the design is scarcely more than20 years old. The Baguette—so named because itits under the wearer’s arm like a loaf of bread—was introduced by Silvia Venturini Fendi,granddaughter of one of the label’s founders, in 1997.“At the suggestion of the label’s ready-to-weardesigner, Karl Lagerfeld, Silvia Fendi had begundesigning accessories for her family’s label ive yearsearlier. It was Fendi who thought to turn the brand’sinterlocking F logo into a buckle, which has beenintegral to the brand’s bags ever since.”When someone suggested to Fendi that she makea simple bag for everyday-wear, she stubbornlydetermined that she would do the opposite.The Baguette’s impractically small size and highprice tag could have easily marked it for failure, butFendi’s vision was to create beautiful, limited-editionbags that were akin to works of art. The styles weremade with unique and opulent fabrics or elaborateembellishments that have turned them into collectors’items. Rather than being perceived as frivolous,the Baguettes are lauded for their meticulous detailand their embrace of hand-crafted materials. ■SEE WHERE TO BUY FOR DETAILSFENDI